1 in 5 adolescent boys got shot against sex virus in first year it was recommended, CDC says

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FILE - A child health nurse holds up a vial and box for the HPV vaccine, brand name Gardasil, at a clinic in Kinston, N.C. on Monday March 5, 2012. About 1 in 5 adolescent boys have rolled up their sleeves for a controversial vaccine designed to prevent cervical cancer in girls. The government on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2013 released teen vaccination rates for 2012 - the first full year since HPV shots were recommended for boys. (AP Photo/Daily Free Press, Charles Buchanan)

ATLANTA – A new report offers a first look at how many boys are getting shots designed to protect girls from cervical cancer. Health officials say the number getting vaccinated so far is a good start.

The HPV vaccine has only been recommended for boys for about two years, and rates are usually low at first for new vaccines. But the government report released Thursday shows about 1 in 5 adolescent boys got at least one of the three vaccine doses last year.

The vaccine protects against human papillomavirus, which can cause cervical cancer in girls and genital warts in both sexes. It was first recommended for girls but hasn’t been all that popular. Health officials expect it to be a hard sell for boys, too.

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Online:

CDC report: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr

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