So, according to government medical panel, it really does take two to Tango. No, really. Experts on the Advisory Committee of Immunization Practices recommended that 11- and 12-year-old boys get the HPV vaccine alongside their female counterparts, since it’s licensed to prevent anal genital warts and anal cancer, as well as the spread of papilloma virus, which can cause cervical cancer in women. It could also help compensate for the abysmal rate of female vaccinations — just 49 percent of teenage girls have gotten the recommended 3 HPV shots, AP medical writer Mike Stobbe reported, citing statements from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The vaccine has actually been available to boys for 2 years, but a vote Tuesday among members of the Advisory Committee was the first to “strongly recommend.” Admittedly, it’ll be a tough sell.
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