After a plateau, cervical cancer vaccination rates for girls rise again _ but only a little

The government is reporting an increase in teen U.S. girls getting a controversial cervical cancer vaccine — but it's not much of a bump.

Last year's rise follows a couple of years when the HPV vaccination rate was flat.

For girls ages 13 to 17, the rate is now up to about 38 percent from 33 percent.

The CDC on Thursday reported the latest rates for the vaccine that protects against human papillomavirus, or HPV. The sexually transmitted bug can cause cervical cancer, genital warts and other illnesses.

The vaccine has been available since 2006.

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Online:

CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr