CDC Committee Recommends Boys Get HPV Vaccine Too

CNN reports:

A federal government advisory committee voted Tuesday to recommend that boys as young as 11 be vaccinated against the human papilloma virus, commonly referred to as HPV.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) says the vaccine series can be started as early as age 9.

Twelve members of the committee voted in favor of the recommendation; one abstained.

HPV is the number-one sexually transmitted disease in the United States. At least 50% of sexually active people will get it at some point in their lives.

The HPV vote took place as part of the advisory committee's meeting in Atlanta.

The HPV vaccine is already recommended for females between the ages of 9 and 26 to reduce the risk of cervical cancer. The CDC recommends girls get the vaccine at age 11 or 12.