In 2006, Gardasil was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in girls to prevent cervical cancer. In 2008, Gardasil was FDA approved for girls to prevent even more types of cancer. And in 2009, the FDA just approved Gardasil to be used in boys.

Gardasil protects against the human papillomavirus, a sexually transmitted disease that can cause genital warts in men. HPV can be spread through genital contact, most often during sexual intercourse. And it can lead up to cervical cancer in women. According to Dr. David Holleman, a pediatrician at St. Luke’s Hospital, genital warts may not be life-threatening but can cause discomfort.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are 40 types of HPV that can cause cervical cancer in girls. After a successful female vaccine, Gardasil, a branch of the pharmaceutical company Merck, is coming out with a male version.

There was controversy surrounding the release of the girls vaccine and now the same dilemma confronts teenager boys. Some parents worry that giving their children this vaccine is encouraging an active sex life. However, Dr. Jeff Young, father of sophomore Jeremy Young, believes that the Gardasil vaccine is a blessing.

“[The vaccine] doesn’t mean you can go out and have rampant unprotected sex,” Dr. Young said. “It just means that I’m trying to protect you in case there is some mistake you make at some point in your life.”

The HPV vaccine protects against only one type of STD in men and against certain types of cancers in girls. A vaccinated patient may not be getting genital warts but still faces the risk of contracting another type of STD.

Age has been an issue with this vaccine. The latest report done by the CDC says that the vaccine should be for boys from ages 9-26. That is the ideal target range because that is when men are most sexually active.

The female version of the vaccine has been going strong since its release a few years ago. According to ABC News, 25 percent of all girls from ages 11-17 have received the vaccine. If the girls’ version of the vaccine has been this popular, then people should be expecting the same enthusiasm with the male version.

The female vaccine is administered in a series of three shots and the male vaccine will most likely be administered in the same way. The FDA has approved the boy vaccine so it will most likely be coming out later this year or the year following.

Safety is a common concern with vaccines, and the HPV vaccine is no different. So far, the only side effects from the vaccine have been minor in trial testing. These include headaches, vomiting, swelling, and fainting. Compared to other vaccines, this is a fairly safe one.

“I think if, there is anything that you can give your child to decrease the risk of a life threatening illness like cancer, then I think its worthwhile to get the vaccine,” Dr. Young said.

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