Last week the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
voted to change the status of the male human papillomavirus
(HPV) vaccination from permissive to routine. HPV is the most
common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the U.S.; it is
also the main cause of cervical cancer, and research suggests it
is the leading cause of other forms of cancer. The HPV vaccine,
which is widely marketed for female adolescents, has been
approved for males since 2009. However, HPV vaccination rates
are low among female adolescents in theU.S. and even lower among
males. It is estimated that only 1% of males in theU.S. have
been vaccinated. The advisory committee is recommending that the
vaccine become standard for all boys ages 11 and 12 and is
advising the vaccination of young men ages 13 to 21 who have not
yet received the vaccine. Globally, the highest rates of STIs
occur among youth (ages 15-24) and approximately 25% of young
women under 24 years old have been infected with HPV. HPV is
responsible for almost all