The latest news from the world of human papillomavirus (HPV) in July 2019. Missed a story? Let us know!
HPV vaccine for boys 'will prevent thousands of cancers’
Health officials say the HPV vaccine for 12 to 13-year-old boys, starting after the summer, will prevent 29,000 cancers in UK men in the next 40 years. The boys will be eligible from the start of the new school year, 11 years after girls were first vaccinated. Boys aged 12 and 13 will be offered the vaccine in secondary schools from the start of the next school term - in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. Because health policy is devolved in the UK, timings and arrangements will vary slightly across the different nations. We’re thrilled that the policy change that we lobbied for so long to secure, is now going to be enacted but there remains the question of a catchup programme for boys 14 and older who have missed out.
HPV vaccine ages for men should be increased says CDC
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, known as ACIP, voted unanimously to recommend HPV vaccines for both boys and girls and men and women through age 26.
The frequency of HPV worldwide
Epidemiological research over the last decade has demonstrated that Human Papillomaviruses (HPV) are the most widespread and common sexually transmitted infections worldwide (1). It has been estimated that more than 80% of sexually active women and men will acquire at least one HPV infection by the age of 45 years. On average, 12% of women worldwide had a detectable cervical HPV infection varying by geography and age, and strengthens the case of the importance of gender neutral vaccine efforts.
Just one dose of the HPV vaccine may be enough to lower cancer rates
A single dose of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine seems to be almost as good as two or three injections at preventing cervical cancer. The finding may make reaching the World Health Organization’s goal of eliminating cervical cancer easier than initially thought.
Analysing registers of HPV vaccinations and cervical cancer cases, the team found that women who had received three doses of the vaccine were 41 per cent less likely to have these cellular changes – known as precancerous lesions – than unvaccinated women. Women who had been given one or two doses of the vaccine were, respectively, 35 and 39 per cent less likely than unvaccinated women to have these lesions. The finding could be particularly useful in developing nations, as these have the highest burden of cervical cancer but the least access to vaccines.
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