UNITED KINGDOM — A shot that protects against the HPV virus, which is said to cause causes cervical cancer in women, will be given to boys aged 12 to 13 in England, the BBC reports.
Thousands of boys in England are expected to be vaccinated under the program each year, most likely starting sometime in 2019 or 2020.
The HPV virus can be passed on through unprotected sex, and is also linked to head, neck, cervical, penile and vaginal cancers, states the UK's National Health Service.
The HPV vaccine is already given to teenage girls, and is free up until they turn 18, the BBC reports.
UK's National Health Service have been providing HPV vaccine shots to girls since 2008.
Girls were prioritised because the virus causes cervical cancer that kills about 1,000 women every year, while around 500 women die from other HPV virus-related cancers.
However, the BBC reports, that doctors say HPV infections cause cancer of the anus, penis, mouth and throat in boys.
