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COLUMBIA – Men and women ages 27 to 45 will now be vaccinated against HPV after the FDA changes its guidelines.
HPV, or human papillomavirus, is a group of viruses, some of which can cause cancer.
The Gardasil 9 vaccine will now protect against nine types of HPV instead of four.
Mark Hunter, Division Director of the Gynecologic Oncology Clinic at the University Hospital, said it was important that older adults get the vaccine, even if it's more effective for young people.
He says that things like divorce play a role in the spread of the virus.
"The reality of the situation is that a lot of people nowadays are getting divorced, so what happens to the forty-year-old woman who may have the same partner since high school and who is now in a relationship, "said Hunter.
He also added that it is important that parents start thinking about giving the vaccine to their children.
"They're very cautious about administering a vaccine, for example, against a sexually transmitted disease to your nine-year-old." Nobody wants to think about whether they're going to become adults or to become adults. makes the immune system the answer is so much better as a child, "he said.
According to an FDA press release, CDC reporters, about 14 million Americans, are infected with HPV each year.
Of these, 12,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer. However, exposure can also cause cancer in men in areas like the throat and mouth.
Scott Ward, a 56-year-old resident of Fulton, was suffering from a form of throat cancer that doctors believed to have been caused by exposure to the virus.
He underwent surgery and chemotherapy as a result of his cancer.
Ward is now working to disseminate information about the virus. He says men should consider getting vaccinated.
"I am a strong advocate for HPV because I do not even worry about the fact that it's about a man." It's one thing women have, uterine cervix cancer, etc., "said Ward.
"The big problem is that most people did not know that there is a vaccine for boys."
Ward said older adults should also consider getting vaccinated.
"Even if I was 35 years old, that 's what happened, I would still be vaccinated because they have treated this type of cancer, but it' s possible that I 've I still have one hiding somewhere in my body, "he said.
Ward said that even though vaccination is not a guarantee, having protection, is having a better spirit.
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