US committee recommends HPV vaccine for boys

All boys in the United States should receive the quadrivalent vaccine to protect against human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, which can cause cancer, a US committee has recommended.

It should be made routine for the series of vaccinations typically given to all children aged 11-12, with a catch-up period for all those up to the age of 21.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices made the recommendation during a conference call on 25 October, after several months of public hearings and study. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) generally follows the committee’s recommendations and should issue the final wording on the recommendations within a few months. …