FDA Gives Green Like For Gardasil for Boys

FDA Panel OKs HPV Vaccine Gardasil for Boys

The Gardasil vaccine that targets four strains of human papillomavirus virus (HPV) has been approved for adolescent girls and young women for a few years now. Yesterday an FDA advisory committee voted to recommend approval of the vaccine for males. The Gardasil would be given to prevent genital warts in males aged 9 to 26.

Gardasil is given to prevent four strians of HPV in girls. Males can be carriers though and transmit it to sexual partners. HPV can cause penile and anal cancer in me along with genital warts.

The FDA advisory committee stated that in studies the Gardasil vaccine was 89% effective in preventing genital warts. It is licensed for use in males in other countries and there have not been any issues about the vaccines safety in the reports of international studies.

The manufacturer of the Gardasil vaccine, Merck, stated that there have been no serious side effects reported in either males or females. The most common were a slight fever, headache and injection site reactions.

Ultimately, it is up to the FDA to decide whether or not to approve Gardasil as a way to prevent genital warts in males. It is up for approval in males only to prevent genital warts not to prevent cancer in males or as a way to lessen transmission of HPV virus to women.