The HPV vaccine for girls has been a tough sell for many parents. Now a government health panel is deciding whether to recommend it for boys as well.
The HPV shot, offered for girls age 9-26, protects against a sexually transmitted disease that causes genital warts and cervical cancer. Only a third of eligible girls have gotten the shot since it was first recommended in 2006.
Some experts say boys should get the human papillomavirus vaccine, too -- to protect future female sexual partners from HPV, and also to protect themselves. But whether they need protection may hinge on their sexual orientation, which makes it a touchy subject. There's evidence that the vaccine prevents anal cancer in men, which affects gay and bisexual men at a rate 20 times greater than straight men.
So should boys as young as 9 start getting this shot? It seems like a lot for parents to wrap their minds around. Read the full story for more information, and tell us what you think. Would you have your son get this shot?