What the Future of HPV Looks Like Under Trump

We’re still waiting to see how exactly the Trump administration will replace Obamacare, but one thing already appears certain: Sexual health is unlikely to be a big priority, with plans to defund Planned Parenthood and ditch no-cost birth control already in motion.

One question that arises—among many—is what such a repeal could mean for HPV, the most commonly spread STI in the United States.

Given the increasing influence of anti-vaxxers on the GOP’s agenda, it’s not out of the question to imagine that coverage of the HPV shot could be at risk—despite the fact that it can help prevent cancer, and has been proven to lead to less risky sexual behavior.

And up until now, the ACA and the HPV vaccine have paired well together. A 2015 study found that Obamacare had a generally positive impact on getting people vaccinated: It’s estimated that 1.1 million women initiated the series of treatments, and another 854,000 completed them. (Ideally, boys and girls get two doses at age 11 or 12, and it protects them against the nine strains of HPV that cause certain cancers—cervical, anal, penile and genital warts.)

Read more on Tonic