Reports indicate government ready to extend HPV vaccination to boys

The BDA has been a leading voice in the call for a gender-neutral approach to the vaccinations, which are currently provided to school-age girls as protection from cervical cancer. HPV has emerged as the leading cause of oral cancer, especially among young people, and rates are rising steeply overall. It is linked to 5 per cent of all cancers worldwide, including some that affect only men.

Over the last decade, oral cancer incidence rates have increased by almost a quarter in the UK, making it one of the fastest rising types of cancer in the country, and it is increasing more rapidly among men than women.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation had delayed offering concrete recommendations to ministers on a universal programme. It has received widespread criticism for questioning the cost effectiveness of vaccinating boys, based on unpublished, flawed and out-of-date modelling.

The BDA and fellow members of the HPV Action coalition are urgently seeking clarification on when the vaccinations will be offered. Fifteen countries are already vaccinating boys or plan to do so. These are Australia, Austria, Barbados, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Italy, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland and the US.

“Protecting boys from HPV would be a welcome sign that ministers are finally willing to walk the walk on prevention. Dither and delay on gender-neutral vaccination has cost lives. Health professionals are now looking to government for swift roll-out of a national programme,” said Dr Mick Armstrong, Chair of the BDA’s Principal Executive Committee.

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