HPV Vaccination and the Controversy and Attitudes of Male and Female College Students

The HPV vaccination reduces rates of transmission of genital warts and certain HPV related cancers in males as well as reducing the incidence of cervical cancer in women. In this article the researcher will focus on the three Human Papillomavirus vaccines, controversy over the HPV vaccine and attitudes of male and female college students regarding the HPV vaccine. Keywords: Human papillomavirus; Vaccines; Gardasil; Cervarix HPV Vaccination While Pap smears once provided the most valuable protection for women against the development of HPV infection and cervical cancer, the development of the HPV vaccine has further improved opportunities for healthcare providers to effectively combat this disease [1]. According to Merck & Co., Inc. [2]: Gardasil® is a vaccine indicated for females 9 through 26 years of age for the prevention of cervical, vulvar, and vaginal cancers and for males and females 9 through 26 years of age for the prevention of anal cancer, precancerous or dysplastic lesions, and genital warts caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) Types 6, 11, 16, and 18. According to Merck & Co., Inc. [2], the most common side effects to Gardasil® include, (a) pain, swelling, itching, bruising, and redness at the injection site, (b) headache, (c) fever, (d) nausea, (e) dizziness, (f) vomiting, and (g) fainting. According to the CDC [6], "On October 16, 2009, the FDA licensed bivalent human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV 2; Cervarix®, GlaxoSmithKline) for use in females aged 10 through 25 years". According to Merck & Co., Inc. [2], Gardasil 9 is a vaccine approved...