In June 2006, the Food and Drug Administration approved a vaccine that protects against exposure to certain strains of the human papilloma virus (HPV), a sexually transmitted virus that can cause cervical cancer and genital warts. In order to give the greatest protection, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that girls be inoculated before they become sexually active. Some states are considering requiring that 11- and 12-year-old girls be vaccinated in order to attend school, something that has set off a maelstrom of protest from parents.

In order to learn more about the vaccine, reporter Laurie Udesky talked to Dr. Dean Blumberg, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at University of California at Davis Medical Center. Blumberg describes the studies that led up to the vaccine approval, why HPV is so easy to contract, and exactly what the vaccine protects against.

Click the "play" button to listen now:	Other options: Subscribe to our podcast Get the mp3 file (This launches your default audio program (such as Real Player, QuickTime, or iTunes). To save to your computer and listen later, right-click on the link and choose "Save As.") Read the audio script.

Digital Audio Team

Reporter, writer, producer, and digital audio editor: Laurie Udesky
Script editor: Diana Hembree
Sound engineer: Laurie Udesky
Flash production: Eric Turner
Web production: Deepi Brar

Troubleshooting: If you don't hear anything, try turning up the volume of your computer speakers. If you don't notice anything loading at all, you probably need to download and install the free Flash Player. Click on one of the buttons to get the free software from Macromedia Inc.

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First published March 23, 2007
Copyright © 2007 Consumer Health Interactive