Human Papillomavirus: Will the Vaccine Soon be Extended to Boys?

Emil Lahr
Emil Lahr
Nov 2 · 2 min read

The High Authority for Health (HAS) wants to extend the recommendation of the human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV) to young boys, according to the draft opinion published Wednesday, October 30, which will be submitted to public consultation for four weeks. In particular, “the HAS recommends the expansion of HPV vaccination for all children aged 11 to 14 years, with a possible recovery process for all adolescents and young adults aged 15 to 19 years”.

The Health Authority has been invited by the Ministry of Health to examine how to “control the transmission” of these viruses responsible for various types of cancer, for which the rate of vaccination remains “inadequate” (less than 30%) “in light of the objectives of 60% set in the Tumor Plan 2014–2019”.

4,580 new cancers in women

In France, vaccination is now recommended and reimbursed to all girls aged between 11 and 14 years and between 15 and 19 years if they reach the level reached. It is also recommended until the age of 26 for men who have sex with men (MSM) and for immunocompromised patients.

Sexually transmitted infections associated with this virus can cause cancer in women and men — in the cervix, vagina, penis, anus or neck. About 1,750 new cases of HPV-related cancer occur annually in France in men and 4,580 in women. Cervical cancer alone still kills 1,100 women per year in France and 2,900 new cases are diagnosed.

Some countries, such as the United States, already recommend that all pre-adolescents be vaccinated against HPV before being exposed to the virus at the age of 11 or 12. In March, the Academy of Medicine and about 50 professional and medical associations supported the extension of vaccination to children.

The HAS bases its recommendation on medical arguments and points out that “the first available data support the possible effectiveness of vaccines in the prevention of tumors of the ORL”. But it also raises the fact that “vaccination against HPV, which is limited to girls and MSM, raises ethical issues, equal access to vaccinations and stigmatization related to sexual orientation and lack of privacy”.

The health costs of HPV infections in France amount to more than 500 million euros per year, stressed the Medical Academy in a report published at the end of September, which deplored that the vaccination of girls — less than 20% — is “the lowest in Europe”. The HAS invites stakeholders from the vaccination policy (patients’ associations, national institutes, professional associations, public institutions, industrial companies, etc.) to take part in the vaccination. Contributions will be analyzed and discussed with a view to reaching a final recommendation.

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