In the wake of some of the most unfortunate politicization (and misrepresentation) of science and medicine in recent memory, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisory committee voted yesterday to recommend that boys and young men should be vaccinated against human papilloma virus (HPV).
Thirteen of the fourteen members on the committee voted in favor of extending the HPV vaccine recommendation (which has been suggested for girls beginning at age 11 or 12 for several years, now) to young boys. Both forms of the vaccine (Gardasil and Cervarix) have been shown to protect against strains of HPV responsible for cervical, penile, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers—which, you know, is kind of important.
The official recommendation will now make its way to the director of the CDC and the secretary of the US Department of Health and Human services for final approval.