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    Mayo Clinic Minute: HPV Vaccine Prevents Cancer

fingers holding a bottle of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine

Earlier this month we reported on the big drop in rates of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in the United States. A study in the journal Pediatrics shows that since the introduction of the HPV vaccine six years ago, the rate of HPV infection has dropped 64 percent for girls ages 14 to 19.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the human papillomavirus is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. Some strains of HPV can cause cancers, including cervical, penile, anal and throat cancers. Mayo Clinic experts say the HPV vaccine, when administered to boys and girls, can prevent transmission of the virus and reduce the risk of related cancers.

In this Mayo Clinic Minute, reporter Vivien Williams talks to doctors at Mayo Clinic about the importance of the HPV vaccine and how it works.

Watch the Mayo Clinic Minute.

Journalists: Broadcast quality video is available in the downloads. (1:00) Read the script.

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