Gardasil for Men

HPV- the Human Papiloma Virus. The cause of 70 percent of all cervical cancer.

I'm sure everyone has seen the Gardasil commercials, with the girls who always say, "I will not be a statistic." Gardasil studies have show that it is nearly a 100 percent effective immunization treatment in preventing pre-cancerous cervical lesions from four different HPV strains.

According to an article from heathnews.com, the vaccine Gardasil had been approved in early October for males ages 9 to 26. But a study, from the British Medical Journal, the same month revealed the vaccine for males was not cost effective, and that cost outweighed the health benefits. The CDC has now voted against its use as a routine vaccination for men. However, they still recommend that males get the vaccine to protect themselves from the transmission and adquisistion of genital warts and HPV.

The study said "assuming lifelong protection among 75 percent coverage, the routine vaccination of girls who were 12 years of age was found to be a good value at less than $50,000 per quality adjusted life year. However, by adding boys of the same age, the cost-effectiveness ratio was increased to over $100,000 per quality adjusted life year."

I think it is absurd that they voted against Gardasil as a routine vaccination for males. In a case like this, where cervical cancer claims 4,000 female's lives alone, how can cost outweigh the health benefits. Males are carriers for HPV, and tranfer the STD during sex. If men were to get the vaccine it could potentially prevent them from contracting HPV and transferring it to others. I think when it comes to health, cost should never outweigh health benefit-- especially when it comes to saving lives.