To vaccinate or not to vaccinate for HPV? That’s the question for some parents who worry about giving this vaccine to their preteens. For some, it’s fear of allergic reactions or side effects. For others, it’s concerns about whether the vaccine actually works or why it needs to be given so young. One of the newer immunizations on the market, the HPV vaccine has proven extremely successful in the past 10 years. HPV infection rates have dropped 65 percent in teens since the vaccination was first introduced in 2006. HPV (human papillomavirus) is a group of viruses transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, such as vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Some strands of HPV cause warts, and others can cause cancer of the tonsils, throat, anus, cervix and genitals in both men and women. National organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Academy […]
