An immunization expert says the Human Papiloma Virus (HPV) vaccine would work on males too. Dr. John Temte, an immunization advisor for the Centers for Disease Control , considers Gardasil to be very effective in females for preventing HPV, which leads to the majority of cases of cervical cancer. As an Associate Professor of Family Medicine at UW Madison , he says the biology of HPV is "basically the same for men and women."
Dr. Temte considers Gardasil "likely" to be an effective vaccine for males, whose HPV infection may manifest into penile or rectal cancer. He says from a disease control standpoint, vaccinating males would also prevent transmitting the virus through sexual contact. As far as approval for use in boys and men, the physician says there are insufficient studies to support a recommendation. However he believes its possible within as little as a couple of years.
Currently, doctors are allowed to prescribe Gardasil to males but as an "off label" use which opens up legal recourse by patients harmed by the vaccine.
Last week the Canadian Government announced Alberta became the final province to offer immunizations to grade school girls. Similar mandate attempts in Wisconsin have failed to become law.
AUDIO: Brian Moon reports (MP3 :70)
