A new recommendation from the CDC released this week advises boys age 11-13 be vaccinated for the Human Papillomavirus (HPV).

(Reuters) – Boys should be routinely vaccinated against the human papillomavirus or HPV in an effort to protect them from oral, anal and penile cancers, and to extend protection of girls from cervical cancer, U.S. vaccine advisers said on Tuesday. (Full Story)

HPV is a sexually transmitted disease which causes genital warts and has been known to cause cancer. This recommendation, as tough as it it to hear, underscores just how pervasive sexual activity is among our youth.

I am more than a bit unnerved by the announcement as the father of two boys. My boys are not school-aged yet, but this announcement gives me a view into the world of their future. It is a world where sexual activity is more dangerous than ever – not just emotionally and spiritually, but threatening their very lives.

It doesn’t make sense to offer an opinion regarding the vaccine itself. I am not a health professional, nor well-researched. I am just grieved by the need for such a vaccine, especially in the likes of 11-13 year old boys. I would like to say that statistically boys and girls in the church are more abstinent and therefore safer, but that is not the case.

We are in a sad state…Lord Jesus, have mercy!

That being said, there is always hope in Christ. God is not rocked by STD’s, regardless of how young the victim. His Kingdom will see the eradication of them all. God’s prescription for sexual intimacy in marriage still stands as the best chance for “safe sex.”

I know the sadness I feel is His sadness at the harming of His children. I hope this will be a wake-up call to parents to talk to their kids about sex.  When should that be? I recommend while they are still in single-digits. When their doctor will be talking about these vaccines just a couple of years afterwards, it only makes sense.

These are just random musings, but I felt compelled to write about the issue.