A huge number of people have HPV, and over time, HPV can lead to cancer. It’s as simple as that. The human papillomavirus is transmitted sexually, and is really widespread in the United States. The HPV vaccine protects against nine strains of HPV that are most likely to lead to cancer. People get hung up about the vaccine because it is recommended that children get it. The vaccine will be most effective on children who are not yet sexually active, because they haven’t been exposed to any strains of HPV yet.
Dr. Heather Yeo, a colorectal surgeon, says it was an obvious choice to get the vaccine for her own kids. “Those that should getting vaccinated are kids,” says Dr. Yeo. “So I think that for some parents that’s sort of scary. My daughter is about to complete her cycle of vaccination, and my son has also gotten his first vaccine … we know that almost all cervical cancers can be prevented by the vaccine, as well as some oral and some anal and some squamous cell cancers … so I think it’s really important.”
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