HPV vaccine also required for boys

Experts criticize the previous restriction of the HPV vaccine on girls

08/30/2120

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a potential cause of cervical cancer, but it also increases the risk of many other cancers, such as tongue cancer, penile or throat cancer. The British researcher Margaret Stanley I have therefore in the trade magazine „Nature“ advocated not only protecting girls from the virus by vaccination, but also boys. The researcher received support from Nobel laureate Harald zur Hausen.

HPV is the main trigger of an estimated 5 percent of cancers, according to Cambridge University's UK researcher. Why in most countries only girls have a right to a vaccine against papillomaviruses, is not to understand. She spoke in favor of extending vaccination coverage to boys, as has already been planned in the USA, Canada and Australia. Also Harald zur Hausen from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 2008 for his discovery of the connection between HPV and cervix cancer, called for an extension of HPV vaccines to boys.

HPV vaccine not just to protect against cervical cancer
The immunization against HPV is done in girls first and foremost to protect them from cervical cancer. However, the viruses can also trigger many other cancers, as well as the relatively common genital warts of genital warts, which protect the girls with the vaccine. According to the British pathologist, boys should also be entitled to an HPV vaccine. Nobel laureate Harald zur Hausen emphasized to the news agency „dpa“, that a vaccination of both sexes is essential, „if we really want to drastically reduce or eradicate the viruses in a predictable period of time.“

Five percent of cancers due to human papillomaviruses
As Margaret Stanley in the current article in the journal „Nature“ HPV is reported to be the major cause of anal, tonsil and tongue cancer as well as a major risk factor for cancers of the penis, larynx, neck and head. An estimated five percent of human cancers are due to infection with HPV. In addition, HPV cause the relatively common sexually transmitted disease of genital warts. The expert evaluates the development of HPV-related anal tumors particularly critically. Although these cancers are still rare today, doctors are seeing a significant increase in the number of cases - especially in men between the ages of 20 and 49. According to Margaret Stanley, homosexuals are at the highest risk here.

HPV vaccine also recommended for boys?
According to the pathologist, the disease numbers show that an HPV vaccine is also recommended for boys, but this is so far only advocated by the US, Canada and Australia. To keep the costs within manageable limits, the HPV vaccine could initially be restricted to homosexuals, Stanley explained. However, she admitted at the same time that this limitation of access would not only be ethically questionable, but in many cases would probably be too late. Actually, the HPV vaccine should take place before the onset of sexual activity (between the ages of nine and fourteen). However, a restriction to homosexuals would presuppose that they have already discovered their sexuality. There „all men, regardless of sexual orientation, a significant and increasing risk of HPV-associated diseases“ it is not appropriate to exclude men from vaccination and to force them to rely on so-called herd immunity. This restriction is neither ethical nor fair or socially responsible, said Margaret Stanley.

High cost major obstacle to HPV vaccination in boys
Nobel laureate Harald zur Hausen also criticized the assumption that the herd effect (herd immunity) is sufficient to protect men only through the HPV vaccine of women. Although the herd immunity also provide some protection to people who have not received a vaccine, as the viruses in the population can spread worse, but the vaccination rates would have to be much higher. „In Germany, we are just under 40 percent away from the necessary rate, in Austria it is just under five percent“, explained to Hausen. In the opinion of the expert, the main obstacle to the introduction of a HPV vaccine for boys is the extremely high costs. However, negotiations with the health ministries or health insurances should reduce costs, said the Nobel laureate, citing countries such as the UK or Vietnam where this had already happened. The HPV vaccine itself would be the same in boys as in girls, so continue to Hausen. These receive three syringes with one of the two approved vaccines. One of these vaccines also protect against the extremely unpleasant and unpleasant genital warts infection. (Fp)

Read about:
Increase in malignant oral tumors by HP viruses
Cervical cancer: new diagnostic test?
Weak immune defense favors warts

Picture: Gerd Altmann