CDC Panel Recommends HPV Vaccines For Adults Ages 26-45 In Certain Cases, Citing Safety, Effectiveness
Each year in the U.S., about 17,500 women and 9,300 men get HPV-related cancer through sexual activity. Previously the vaccine was recommended only for preteen girls and boys to protect them before exposure to the virus, with catch-up vaccinations through age 26. The CDC usually accepts the recommendations of its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
The Washington Post:
HPV Vaccine Now Recommended Through Age 45 In Some Cases
A federal public health advisory panel said Wednesday that some people through age 45 could benefit from getting an HPV vaccine and should discuss the possibility with their doctors. The recommendation, which came during a two-day meeting of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, could expand the pool of people whose insurance providers may cover the HPV vaccine. (Bever, 6/26)
CNN:
HPV Vaccine Recommendation: CDC Panel Advises Expanding Ages
In a 10-4 vote, the committee also recommended adults ages 27 through 45 who had not been adequately vaccinated make shared decisions with their doctors about getting vaccinated. Adults older than 45 who had not been vaccinated are not advised to do so, since HPV vaccines are not licensed for use in that age group.
The ACIP recommendations won't be official until they're approved by the CDC director. (Howard, 6/26)
The Associated Press:
Vaccine Panel Gives Nod To HPV Shots For Men Up To Age 26
The CDC estimates that roughly half of Americans ages 18 to 59 had some form of genital HPV. Vaccinations against it first became available in 2006 and each dose now costs $216. The vaccine is approved for people up to age 45, but the same panel declined a proposal to recommend it for people older than 26. Instead, it settled on a weak endorsement for adults between 26 and age 45, meaning patients and doctors can make the decision together. (Stobbe, 6/26)
Stat:
U.S. Advisory Panel Stops Short Of Broad Recommendations For Two Common Vaccines
An expert group that provides guidance on U.S. vaccine policy on Wednesday recommended that decisions on the use of two vaccines — one against bacteria that cause pneumonia and one against human papillomavirus — be left to patients and their doctors, stopping short of blanket recommendations from the panel itself. The decisions by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices came as a disappointment to the vaccine manufacturers. But they also keep both products on the official vaccine schedule and covered by health insurance. (Branswell, 6/26)
