Just a few days ago the Federal Drug Administration approved Gardasil for boys!
Gardasil is the vaccine that prevents four stains of the human papilloma virus that causes most cases of cervical and anal cancer. HPV has become an epidemic in recent years. Researchers beleive that as many as 3 out of 5 college students carry the virus and most of them will never know they even have it.
Women typically have no symptoms until an abnormal pap smear or until they are diagnosed with cervical cancer. Men are carriers but rarely have any symptoms or illness at all from the virus. By the time they find out they have HPV, if they ever do, they may have infected numerous women who may someday develop cancer.
It really is a virus we should all be concerned about getting as well as preventing our children from developing.
There has been a lot of controversy over the HPV vaccination. Some say that they do not want their children getting it because it may give them the "OK" to be sexually active. I've also heard women say they don't want to have to explain to their young child what HPV is and how you get it because it is in fact a sexually transmitted disease.
It is my opinion that Gardasil is protecting our kids from getting cancer, not an STD. When was the last time you explained what an MMR was? Or what kinds of diseases Measles, Mumps and Rubella are? I am excited that not only can I protect my daughter but now I can make sure my daughters in-law have a better chance of beng cancer free!
For more information about Gardasil visit: http://www.gardasil.com
