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BOB HIRSHON (host):
Communicating about HPV. I’m Bob Hirshon and this is Science Update.
The newest version of the HPV vaccine could prevent up to 90% of human papilloma virus infections that can lead to life-threatening cervical cancer. But a new study in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention suggests that only a small fraction of health care providers are conveying to families the importance of vaccinating all pre-teens in a timely fashion. Harvard Medical School researcher Melissa Gilkey led the study.
MELISSA GILKEY (Harvard Medical School/Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute):
Receiving a health care provider’s recommendation for HPV vaccination is the strongest, most consistent predictor for whether or not adolescents go on to get the vaccine.
HIRSHON:
But she says only 40% of girls and 22% of boys have been fully vaccinated for HPV in the U.S. by age 17.
GILKEY:
We wonder if providers may be overestimating the concerns parents have over HPV vaccines.
HIRSHON:
I’m Bob Hirshon, for AAAS, the science society.