[Tax-chick]

Propose vaccinating boys, since women generally aren’t contracting HPV from one another. Any chance that men could be affected will stop the effort cold.

[Gabz]

You beat me to it!!!!

[mlizzy]

Propose vaccinating boys, since women generally aren’t contracting HPV from one another. Any chance that men could be affected will stop the effort cold.

Very interesting, and I'm sure you're right.

[wbill]

My understanding is that the vaccination doesn't even cover all strains of HPV, just a couple of them.

Thus, evenually, we'll wind up back exactly where we are today. Instead of strains W, X, Y, and Z infecting a large percentage of the populace, Strains Y and Z just will expand to cover the new gap.

"But, but, but...if it can help, 'just a little', isn't it worthwhile?" In this case, I'd say "what's the difference?". The end result will be the same, people will have wasted an enormous amount of effort to no gain, and, I'd imagine that human behavior being what it is, the 'non resistant' strains will spread like wildfire, since people think that they're "covered".

Wonder what the law of unintended consequences will bring to this particular party? What if strains W and X didn't cause cancer, but Y and Z did?

I agree with you (I think), this is a bad idea all-around.