Christine said....This (Gardasil vaccine)should be available to boys too.

It is available for boys but your PCP will probably only recommend it for Genital warts as the CDC gave it it's Permissive Recommendation which is one step below a Routine Recommendation that the female version has. In a Routine Rec the doctor is obligated to inform the patient of the availability and if it's approved for the VFC (Vaccine for Children) program, which both the male and the female version are, then it may be free to the patient. Under a Permissive Rec, the doctor is not obligated to recommend it but if a patient asks for it, then it will be made available and again free if the patient comes under the VFC guidelines.

Re the advertising of this product, I think Gardasil has hit the market really strong on the female front and in spite of that we have only seen a 17% vaccination rate. It remains to be seen what, if any, advertising is done on the male side since again it's only approved for and can therefore only be advertised for Genital warts.

With only 17% of females getting the prescribed 3 shots and the male version only recommended for Genital warts, males will continue to be totally at risk to not only contract the virus but spread it.

David,

I asked my family doctor to give it to my son and he said "no" and he said it was not allowed by the FDA. If I'm willing to pay for it, do you know how I would go about getting it for him?

Margaret

Margaret,

First off, it is approved by the FDA as a vaccine against genital warts even though it will clear the HPV strains that cause SCC in the oral cavity, anus and penis and frankly if he's that much of an idiot I would go elsewhere to have my son cared for.

I really don't know how he can say no if you tell him you want to protect your son against genital warts.