In trials Gardasil, an HPV vaccination manufactured by Merk & Co., was found to be 100% effective against the four most common strains of HPV, which cause 70% of cervical cancers and 90% of genital warts. The drug received FDA approval in June of last year, but states are still struggling to implement vaccination programs because of pressure from the conservative right who are concerned that vaccinating young girls against HPV will somehow encourage promiscuity (which is akin to saying seat belts encourage road accidents).
The issue of vaccinating boys is all the more relevant since many states are including opt out clauses in their HPV vaccination legislation; In a country where religious convictions prevent so many girls from getting the lifesaving vaccination, it becomes all the more important to vaccinate as many potential carriers as possible, with males being described as a ‘hidden reservoir’ for the disease. In addition, studies with rubella found that it was only when males were vaccinated too that a herd immunity developed.
It is estimated that men and women have an 80% lifetime risk of contracting HPV. As well as protecting against cervical cancer and genital warts, the HPV vaccine can also prevent both anal and penile cancers. And a recent John Hopkins study found that HPV infection via oral sex was the leading cause of throat cancer, which affects 11,000 Americans each year, adding further weight behind the argument to approve the vaccination for use in males, and include young men in public HPV vaccination programs.
