A study published in JAMA Oncology has found that the human papilloma virus (HP), or HPV, vaccine, can significantly reduce the risk of developing related cancers in boys and young men. The study included over 615,00 males ages 9 to 26 who received the vaccine and over 2 million who did not. The vaccine was associated with about a 46% reduction in risk, with those vaccinated between ages 9 and 14 having about a 42% lower risk. The CDC recommends routine vaccination of preteens at 11 or 12 years old, and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a slightly different guidance, which focuses on routine vaccination for all adolescents starting between 9 and 12 years. However, there is no known downside to starting HPV vaccinations at these younger ages, and there has been no evidence of waning protection.