© Harry Cabluck/Associated PressGardasil is now approved in the U.S. to prevent cervical, vulvar, vaginal and anal cancer.
Merck & Co. and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the approval for people aged nine to 26.
"Treatment for anal cancer is challenging; the use of Gardasil as a method of prevention is important as it may result in fewer diagnoses and the subsequent surgery, radiation or chemotherapy that individuals need to endure," said Karen Midthun, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.
Anal cancer is uncommon in the general population but the incidence is increasing, the FDA said.
The American Cancer Society estimates that about 5,300 people are diagnosed with anal cancer each year in the United States, with more women diagnosed than men.
Gardasil is already approved in the U.S. for the same ages to prevent cervical, vulvar and vaginal cancer and associated precancerous lesions caused by human papillomavirus types 6, 11, 16 and 18 in females.
It is also approved for the prevention of genital warts caused by types 6 and 11 in both males and females.
In Canada, Gardasil and GlaxoSmithKline's Cervarix are approved to fight off some types of HPV. In most women, HPV clears up on its own, but for some the infection persists and can lead to cervical cancer.
All provinces and territories now offer school-based HPV vaccination programs.
In February, Health Canada approved Gardasil to prevent genital warts in males aged nine to 26 in Canada.
People who have received HPV vaccines should not discontinue screening by their health-care provider, since the products do not protect against all strains, health authorities advise.
The most commonly reported adverse events associated with the vaccine include fainting, pain at the injection site, headache, nausea, and fever, Merck's data suggests.
"The most commonly reported adverse events associated with the vaccine include fainting, pain at the injection site, headache, nausea, and fever, Merck's data suggests. "
Obviously, Merck doesn't really look at what is happening with the girls who are getting the vaccine. Here are just 3 of the articles that came up in the search engine in the top, right-hand corner of SOTT, when Gardasil was put in:
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I see that Merck is only interested in profits since they are extending the vaccine for anal cancer use. There actually is no proof that this evil vaccine works. [Link]