Women have been reaping the benefits of Gardasil, a Merck vaccine that protects against the 4 most common strains of HPV since its launch in 2006. It has long been thought that there would be no market for Gardasil amongst men as the cancers caused by HPV in men are extremely rare. But c'mon people, not only is the vaccine effective in preventing Genital Warts (the other nasty disease caused by HPV) but certainly men must be interested in the systemic change that would result from vaccination of both sexes! Men are usually silent carriers of HPV and can pass it along to their male and female partners without ever knowing. Can you imagine giving your partner a disease that results in cervical cancer 10 years later??? I would be harboring some serious guilt.
That in mind, Merck has just announced the FDA approval of Gardasil for men. Its recommended use is the same as for women: vaccination between the ages of 9 and 26. So get the word out! If we're all getting vaccinated, we can reduce the occurrence of genital warts and cancers caused by HPV. And that's a beautiful thing! I'm thinking tandem Gardasil vaccinations would make a great first date. Just a thought!
For more info, check out this blurb in the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/10/16/us/politics/AP-US-Merck-Vaccine-Boys.html
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