An advisory committee to the CDC recommended yesterday that boys ages 11 and 12 should be vaccinated with Gardasil for protection against certain strains of HPV. Slate magazine’s XXX Factor reports that “young men between 13 and 21 were also included” and that those between 21 and 26 can get the vaccine “but it may not be as effective due to increased rates of exposure among sexually active people.”

A detailed ABC News story on Monday (worth clicking on to see the CDC’s estimated stats on the diseases caused by HPV and potential prevention the vaccine can provide) noted that the CDC had already recommended immunizing girls of the same age “before they become sexually active, although they can be vaccinated as young as age 9. The agency issued a so-called permissive recommendation giving males from ages 9 through 26 the option of receiving the vaccine.”

Some fear that vaccinating preteens “might encourage promiscuous behavior,” but “Many infectious disease specialists welcome universal vaccination as a key tool in reducing the toll of preventable diseases.”

Dr. Lawrence Stanberry of New York Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital “offered a fairness argument for recommending vaccinations for both sexes. “Girls acquire the infection from boys and it seems appropriate, even fair, for boys to share responsibility for maximizing community [herd] immunity,” he said.

Herd immunity. Subtle reminder of where we are in the scheme of things, isn’t it?