Over the past few years there has been a great deal of discussion about the vaccine for the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Much of the debate is over whether girls as young as 11 should be mandated to receive it. Some parents feel uncomfortable vaccinating their daughters against an STD, while others fear that it could encourage promiscuity.
Recently, ABC News reported on a new issue surrounding this vaccine. While millions of young women have already received this shot, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has only recommended it for use in people between the ages of 9 and 26. This has led many older individuals to wonder why they cannot be included as well.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a woman should ideally receive this shot before she is sexually active. Federal health officials have claimed that by the time a woman is in her late 20′s, she has likely already been exposed to HPV, which often carries no symptoms but can sometimes lead to cervical cancer.
Tags: abc news, CDC, FDA, HPV, HPV vaccine, promiscuity, STD, vaccine
