The Human papillomavirus (HPV) is considered the most common sexually transmitted infection in the U.S. Many people know that the disease can cause cervical cancer — but it's also known to cause other kinds of cancer that affect both men and women.
Although a vaccine has been available for more than a decade, vaccination rates remain relatively low, especially among boys and men. According to a CDC survey, around half of teens were up to date with the vaccination as of 2017.
Dr. Brian Bear wants to change that. The retired OB-GYN has given public presentations about the effects of HPV and the benefits of the vaccine. Part of the problem is getting the male populations educated, according to Bear.
"I have made it my mission to try and educate men on getting out there and getting vaccinated because it’s a subset of our population that still could be harboring the virus and spreading it," he says.
Bear joined Lake Effect's Joy Powers to discuss why it's important to increase HPV vaccination rates:
