HPV Vaccination in Asia Pacific: a new advocacy report for action
NOMAN is an Island: Race to End HPV and Global Action on Men’s Health (GAMH) have published a new report to support the expansion of HPV vaccination to both girls and boys across Asia Pacific.
Accelerating Routine Universal HPV Vaccination in Asia Pacific: An Advocacy Report for Action examines the region’s vaccination policies and sets out priorities for advocates and policymakers working at country, regional and global levels. It covers East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia and Oceania.
Expanding protection across the region
Asia Pacific carries the world’s largest burden of HPV-related cancers. Yet many countries, including some of the most populous, continue to focus on girls-only vaccination, leaving boys outside routine national programmes. At the time of the report, six economies in the region had national HPV vaccination programmes that included boys: Australia, Bhutan, Mongolia, New Zealand, South Korea and Taiwan. This leaves a substantial gap in access to protection across the region. The report makes the case for routine universal HPV vaccination as the next phase of prevention, protecting both girls and boys and supporting efforts to prevent the full range of HPV-related cancers.
Supporting advocacy and policy change
Designed as a practical advocacy resource, the report identifies opportunities to advance routine universal vaccination through national decisions, regional cooperation and global policy. It highlights the importance of changes in World Health Organization guidance at regional and global levels, alongside action through the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. These institutions have an important role in creating the conditions for countries to expand their programmes.
Building strong coalitions within countries and across the region is another priority. Bringing together advocates, health professionals, researchers and policymakers can help build support for universal vaccination and turn that support into action. For NOMAN and GAMH, the report will inform our ongoing work with partners across Asia Pacific, supporting advocacy that reflects countries’ circumstances while advancing a shared goal: routine HPV vaccination that protects both girls and boys.
Read the full report:
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