Informing about cancers linked to the papillomavirus is essential. Papillomavirus infection (also called HPV) is indeed very common and affects nearly 80% of the population. [1] women and men alike. If in about 90% of cases HPV infections disappear naturally, their consequences when they persist can be serious. In France, 4,600 new cases of anogenital cancers are diagnosed each year in women and men (cancers of the cervix, vulva, vagina, anus). [2]
Prevention of HPV-related cancers: vaccination and screening rates too low
Screening and vaccination rates, which are additional means of prevention against HPV cancers, remain too low in our country.
Current screening methods do not allow the detection of all HPV-related cancers. Nowadays, only cervical cancer benefits from a defined strategy of screening and follow-up pre-cancerous lesions. European health authorities recommend a cervical cancer screening rate (regular screening from 25 to 65 years old) of 70%. This rate is however 59% in France. [3]
The vaccination rate is 37.4% among girls – one of the lowest in Europe [4] – against a target set by the National Cancer Institute of 80%, boys and girls[5]). It should be remembered that vaccination against HPV, currently recommended for girls and boys aged 11 to 14 (with possible catch-up vaccination up to 19 years of age), makes it possible to prevent HPV infections at the origin of approximately 90 % of cancers of the cervix and at the origin of many other cancers, in men as in women (vulva, vagina, anus, penis, ENT sphere).
Papillomavirus: be well informed to protect your health and that of your children
MSD wanted, as a public health actor, to support the fight against several HPV-related cancers by allowing as many people as possible to access information on these infections and the existing means of prevention, to talk about them with their doctor or pharmacist, and thus benefit from the same chances in the prevention of these cancers. What information tools have been implemented for this campaign? Challenging TV & radio informative spots, educational articles in the press, regular publications on social networks, participation in solidarity events, dissemination of information documents for patients and also a website that answers the main questions of mothers on HPV infections http://www.papillomavirus.fr/ Millions of opportunities to see these awareness messages and the opportunity for the greatest number of parents to be able to protect their children and adolescents against various HPV-related cancers.
[1] https://www.santepubliquefrance.fr/ Maladies-et-traumatismes/ Maladies-a-prevention-vaccinale/infections-a-papillomavirusaccessed 05.10.2022
[2] Shield D et al. New cancer cases in France in 2015 attributable to infectious agents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. European Journal of Epidemiology. 2017
[3] For all women aged 25 to 65. Cervical cancer: screening and vaccination coverage must progress for better prevention (santepubliquefrance.fr)screening rate over the period 2018-2020, consulted on 05.10.2022
[4] For the complete scheme in girls aged 16 years. Vaccination, BSP national edition, Public Health France, April 2022, p. 7, “2 doses – complete regimen” at 16 years old – 2005 birth cohort.
