Canada: Alberta school boys to get HPV-fighting vaccine fall 2014

Story here. Excerpt:

'While Grade 5 girls in Alberta have had the option of recieving the HPV-fighting vaccine Gardasil since 2008 in school-wide immunization programs, boys will be included in Sept 2014.

Boys from Grades 5 to 9 will receive the vaccine in September — 32,000 Grade 5 students and 15,000 Grade 9 boys.

Gardasil, a vaccine touting protection against four strains of human papilloma virus — including two which account for 70% of cervical cancer — was approved in 2006.

At the time, it was given the green light for females ages nine to 26.

“Research suggests that immunizing both boys and girls against HPV will mean better protection for everyone,” said Dr. Joan Robinson, infectious diseases pediatrician with the University of Alberta.
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In 2006 when the shot was approved, critics questioned why the vaccine was pushed through without long-term studies.'

Also see this article and this article.