Nearly 50 Percent Of U.S. Teen Boys Have Received The HPV Vaccine
Almost 63 percent of girls across the country have been vaccinated for the human papillomavirus. In other children's health news, a study links violence exposure to higher viral loads for HIV-positive kids.
The Washington Post:
Teen Boys’ HPV-Vaccination Rate Hits Almost 50 Percent, CDC Says
The rate of HPV vaccination among teen boys in the United States surged in 2015, suggesting that more parents and physicians are embracing the message that it's as important for boys to be vaccinated against the human papillomavirus as it is for girls. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Thursday that 49.8 percent of boys ages 13 to 17 had gotten at least one of the recommended three doses as of 2015, up 8 percentage points from 2014. The rate for teen girls rose more slowly: Almost 63 percent had gotten at least one dose, compared to 60 percent in 2014. (McGinley, 8/25)
The Washington Post:
How Violence Could Be Hurting Kids With HIV
Exposure to gunfire, assaults and other violence may negatively impact the health of children born with HIV, according to a new Harvard University study. Researchers analyzed the medical records of 268 youths ages 8 to 15 and then asked them about their exposure to violence within the previous year. Fifty-three said they had heard gunshots on their block, for example, and 23 said they lived in a neighborhood where there had been a murder. Twenty reported that a neighbor had been hit by a police officer. (Kelly, 8/25)