New Hampshire state officials announced Wednesday that the state will be the first to offer girls ages 11 to 18 a vaccine to protect them against cervical cancer.

The vaccine for the human papillomavirus (HPV) will be provided for free through New Hampshire's Vaccine for Children program, funded by the federal government and private insurers. The program offers immunizations for a variety of diseases at no cost to children 18 years of age and younger.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 20 million people in the United States are infected with HPV, and 6.2 million more are infected annually. The virus, that typically causes no symptoms and can go away on its own, can cause cervical cancer -- the number two cancer killer in women.

Some believe giving this vaccine to young girls promotes promiscuity since HPV is sexually transmitted. Others say it should never be considered a license for sexual activity -- because it does not protect against pregnancy or other sexually transmitted diseases.

The cervical cancer vaccine -- called Gardasil -- was approved by the FDA in June for use in girls ages 9 to 26.