Federal regulators boost their OK on use of cervical cancer vaccine from age 26 to age 45

U.S. regulators have expanded the use of Merck’s cervical cancer vaccine, Gardasil 9, to adults up to age 45.

The vaccine, according to a recent story by Linda A. Johnson of the Associated Press, was previously approved only for preteens and young adults through 26.

Johnson’s article notes that the vaccine protects against the human papilloma virus, or HPV, which can cause cervical cancer, certain other cancers and genital warts — and that the virus is “very common and is spread through sex.”

HPV, it goes on to say, “doesn’t cause any problems, but some infections persist and eventually lead to cancer.”

Johnson also writes that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated about 14 million people become newly infected with HPV each year, mostly teens and young adults” — and adds that 33,700 are diagnosed annually with a cancer caused by an HPV infection.

The latest version of the pharmaceutical giant’s vaccine protects “against nine strains of HPV, four more than the original” did in 2006, the story indicates.

Details about other new vaccines and drug, and other Federal Drug Administration action, can be found in “Rollercoaster: How a man can survive his partner’s breast cancer,” a VitalityPress book I, Woody Weingarten, aimed at male caregivers.