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American Cancer Society Tells Doctors to Give 9-Year-Olds HPV Vaccine

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The American Cancer Society is pushing human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines for 9-year-old children, which is much younger than the 11- or 12-year-old recommendation by the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).

Usually pediatricians follow ACIP’s guidelines, but the Cancer Society says that giving the HPV vaccine at an earlier age will help increase the vaccination rate. (While its recommendations are for older children, the ACIP does say the vaccine can be given as early as age 9.)

The Society also said it disagrees with ACIP’s recommendation for “shared decision-making” for adults aged 27 to 45 because getting the vaccine at that age “has minimal public benefit and is unlikely to prevent a significant number of cancers, precancers or genital warts.” Instead, the Society says it’s more important to reach adults aged 22 to 26 who haven’t completed the two-dose series or who haven’t received the vaccine at all.

SOURCE: The Vaccine Reaction July 19, 2020