Pros And Cons Of The HPV Vaccine

There is a big controversy on whether or not children and teens should be vaccinated for HPV. HPV is a very common virus that affects the genitals of both women and men. Of the thirty different types of HPV, fourteen are considered high risk, which could mean causing cancer. HPV affects approximately 79 million Americans, with 14 million people becoming infected for the first time each year. Due to the high amount of people who contract the HPV virus, it is highly recommend that both males and females get the vaccine for HPV. Many parents do not think the HPV vaccine is necessary for their children, or think that the vaccine will cause unwanted behaviors in the past, but if parents were informed about the HPV virus, they would be more apt to having their children vaccinated at a

It is recommended for children ages eleven to twelve to be vaccinated against HPV (4). The reason for the vaccine age recommendation is because the HPV vaccine produces higher levels of antibodies that fight HPV infection in preteens than it does in older teens or young adults (5). If you vaccinate your child at a young age, they will already be protected from the HPV virus, instead of getting the vaccine when it’s too late or regretting not getting the vaccine if they develop HPV. Starting the vaccine series earlier will help protect children from contracting the HPV virus when they are older, as well are protecting children from cancers and diseases caused by the virus. HPV has been responsible for half a million cases of cancer and more than 250,000 deaths every year (1). The HPV vaccine will prevent males and females from getting HPV and potentially developing cancer due to having the virus. Studies have proven the HPV vaccine to work really well by decreasing the number of infections in young people since it has been available