Males and the HPV Vaccine

New research from a British journal has found that vaccines to protect against the human papilloma virus (HPV) are “safe and well tolerated in males.” Verywell Health looks at the findings from the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.

HPV can lead to a variety of cancers in both males and females. Earlier research had focused on females. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends vaccinating both boys and girls against HPV, starting at age 11 or 12.

Verywell spoke to Richard Watkins, M.D., an infectious disease physician in Akron, Ohio, and a professor of internal medicine. Dr. Watkins said that he “absolutely” recommends that boys be given the HPV vaccine, noting, “There is no downside and it can reduce the risk of cancer.”

More information on vaccine safety is available at the CDC website.

Read the Verywell article.