Health Department: Alabama teens lag in HPV vaccinations

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) _ State health officials say too many Alabama teens aren’t getting vaccinated for a potentially cancer-causing virus.

The Alabama Department of Public Health says a national report shows not enough Alabama youth are being immunized for human papillomavirus, or HPV.

The report shows 39 percent of Alabama teen girls aged 13 to 17 have had the vaccine, which matches the national number. But only 9 percent of male adolescents have had the immunization, which is well below the national average.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says HPV can lead to cancer, particularly cervical cancer in females. It also causes other problems, such as warts that spread through intimate contact.

The HPV vaccine is recommended for all children at age 11 to 12.

Vaccination rates are better for other diseases.