Doctors Now Want More Adults to Get the HPV Vaccine
Good news for adults who have not yet received the HPV vaccine: A government advisory group recently voted to recommend a vaccine for men under 26 ( previously recommended for women under 26 and men under 21) with “weak support.” for people under the age of 45.
The HPV vaccine protects against several types of human papillomavirus, which can cause genital warts and cancer. HPV does not always lead to cancer, but it is very common, which is why most of us will be exposed to the virus at some point in our sex lives. When you get a Pap test, your gynecologist checks for early signs of cervical cancer that HPV can cause. HPV can also cause oral cancer and, less commonly, other diseases, such as cancer of the anal canal and penis.
The new recommendations come from the CDC ‘s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices . After the CDC formally accepts these guidelines, most insurance plans will be required to cover the cost of vaccines as recommended. (If not, they cost about $ 200 a dose, and adults need three doses.) This means that men under 26 should have no problem getting vaccinated, and people aged 26 to 45 should be able to get the vaccine. after discussing this with your doctor. (The vaccine is only approved for people under the age of 45. )
The best age for vaccination ischildhood , well before sexual intercourse, which is why the HPV vaccine is includedin the vaccination schedule for children aged 11 to 12 . Previously, the vaccine was only intended for younger people because by the time you had sex you had already been exposed to the virus, so the vaccine was not thought to be very helpful. However, there are several types of virus that can cause cancer, and the newest vaccine protects against nine of them, so even if you’ve been exposed to one or two, you can still get protection from others.