The FDA has approved the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for men and women ages 27-45. FDA studies found that the Garadsil 9 vaccine is 90 percent effective in preventing HPV and is now expanding its age recommendation. HPV can cause cervical cancer in women and throat cancer in men. “This is really important,” said Dr. Richard Deming, medical director at Mercy Cancer Center in Des Moines. “Most people don't realize that about 50 percent of cancers in the United States are preventable.”The vaccine was previously only available up until age 26.Deming said he is thrilled that the HPV vaccine is available to more people.“It is a really effective safe way of preventing cancer and saving lives,” he said.The HPV virus causes 43,000 new cancer cases each. “Of those 43,000, we could prevent 90 percent of them if everyone was vaccinated,” Deming said.Not all nine strains of HPV cause cancer, but Deming said getting the vaccine is a sure way to protect yourself.“It's such a common virus, and it spreads so readily that almost everyone who has become sexually active will have picked up some strain of HPV,” he said.Deming said that preventing cervical cancer by getting the vaccine is more cost effective than screening women to find cancer.

The FDA has approved the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for men and women ages 27-45.

FDA studies found that the Garadsil 9 vaccine is 90 percent effective in preventing HPV and is now expanding its age recommendation.


HPV can cause cervical cancer in women and throat cancer in men.

“This is really important,” said Dr. Richard Deming, medical director at Mercy Cancer Center in Des Moines. “Most people don't realize that about 50 percent of cancers in the United States are preventable.”

The vaccine was previously only available up until age 26.

Deming said he is thrilled that the HPV vaccine is available to more people.

“It is a really effective safe way of preventing cancer and saving lives,” he said.

The HPV virus causes 43,000 new cancer cases each.

“Of those 43,000, we could prevent 90 percent of them if everyone was vaccinated,” Deming said.

Not all nine strains of HPV cause cancer, but Deming said getting the vaccine is a sure way to protect yourself.

“It's such a common virus, and it spreads so readily that almost everyone who has become sexually active will have picked up some strain of HPV,” he said.

Deming said that preventing cervical cancer by getting the vaccine is more cost effective than screening women to find cancer.