Schaffner: New HPV vaccine schedule eases burden for parents
The CDC has adopted a recommendation that preteens get two shots instead of three and space them further apart of the cervical cancer vaccine. Health officials hope that will boost the number of girls and boys who get vaccinated. The vaccine protects against human papillomavirus – or HPV – which can cause cervical cancer, certain other cancers and genital warts. It is commonly spread through sex. In most cases, the virus doesn’t cause any problems, but some infections gradually lead to cancer. Dr. William Schaffner, a vaccines expert at Vanderbilt University, hopes the new schedule will encourage more parents to get their children vaccinated.