Reuters

“The number of head and neck cancers linked to a virus spread by oral sex is rising rapidly and suggests boys as well as girls should be offered protection through vaccination, doctors said Friday. “ (Emphasis added)

…”This growth seems to be linked to cancers caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), scientists said in a report in the British Medical Journal.”

…”The scientists, led by Hisham Mehanna of the Institute of Head and Neck Studies at University Hospital Coventry, said while including boys in immunisation plans (girls have been the priority) has been seen as too expensive, it may be time to look again. (Emphasis added)

“We need to look at the evidence again to re-evaluate the cost-effectiveness of male children in light of this new and rapidly rising incidence,” he said in an interview.” (Emphasis added)

Source: Reuters, March 26, 2010

Citation: BMJ 2010;340:c1439