Most of us are infected with the human papillomavirus (HPV) and we won’t ever know it. But for a small percentage, the virus can sit dormant for years before developing into cancer most commonly of the cervix or head and neck. It’s usually transmitted through sexual contact. The HPV vaccine is the only way to protect against the disease, but it’s only effective when given before someone is sexually active, so it’s recommended that children get it starting at age 9. That’s where the misconceptions come in. Some people maintain that getting the vaccine promotes sex at a young age. “Fake news,” says Dr. Jonathan Berek, director of the Stanford Women’s Cancer. There is absolutely no data to support that and in fact, he says, the vaccine is perfectly safe and very effective.
