Papillomavirus: HAS recommends the vaccine for boys

In France, the vaccine against the human papillomavirus (HPV) was until then recommended for girls aged 11 to 14 (with catch-up up to 19 years old) and young men who have sex with men (MSM) to prevent cancers of the cervix, vulva, vagina and anal cancers. But now, the High Authority for Health (HAS) recommends that this vaccination be extended to all boys aged 11 to 14.

Throat cancer: a slow epidemic

For several years, doctors have observed a slow epidemic of cancers in the ENT sphere, in the United States and in northern European countries. This type of cancer is said to increase due to infections caused by human papillomaviruses, very common sexually transmitted viruses, generally contracted at the beginning of sexual life. And nearly 25% of these HPV-induced cancers occur in men.

“If to date it is recommended to vaccinate young girls and MSM, who continue to be the most affected by diseases linked to papillomaviruses, a vaccination extended to all men, regardless of their sexual orientation, will not only benefit their health, by protecting them directly, but will also improve the protection of unvaccinated young girls” underlines the high authority in a press release. “I’absence of distinction according to sex and sexual orientation is also a way of simplifying the vaccination proposal for health professionals, especially at an age when sexual orientation is not yet known or affirmed.

Catch-up up to 19 years old

The HAS recommends the vaccination of boys aged 11 to 14, with possible catch-up for all adolescents and young adults aged 15 to 19. This recommendation was initially subject to public consultation on the HAS website. More than a hundred professionals concerned by the vaccination policy were also invited to give their opinion.

The High Authority recalls that in Europe, a Fifteen countries have already implemented universal vaccination against HPV for both sexes.

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