UK gives example to HPV vaccine for boys

The UK is taking action to stop preventable forms of cervical cancer and some other cancers by offering free HPV vaccines to 11- and 12-year-old boys. HPV is responsible for almost all cancers of the cervix and most cancers of the throat, often in men.

The program, announced on July 9, will be implemented at the beginning of this academic year – September 2019.

The UK's National Health Service has been offering the vaccine free of charge to girls since 2008 and has distributed approximately 10 million doses. The program is estimated to have contributed to an 86% decrease in HPV strains that generally cause cancer. The inclusion of boys is a step towards eliminating new cases of HPV-related cancer.

Other countries, such as the United States, should consider doing the same. HPV is the most common STI in the United States and the CDC believes it affects almost all unvaccinated and badually active people at some point in their lives. Better access to vaccines for people of all genders could prevent many of the 4,200 cervical cancer deaths that occur each year in the United States.

While the number of teenagers in the United States who are aware of HPV vaccination has increased by five percentage points between 2016 and 2017, this still means that only half of them have received all recommended doses of the HPV vaccine in 2017. the rate of black girls to day in their vaccinations against HPV decreased in Mississippi and Georgia during the same period.

A recent Human Rights Watch report discusses the critical role HPV vaccine plays in reducing race disparities in health in Alabama. The United States can increase vaccination rates by raising awareness and accessibility. Legislators should support policies to ensure more information and access to the vaccine, and public health agencies should provide physicians with accurate and age-appropriate training on how to talk about the HPV vaccine to parents and patients.

By applying legal and community strategies, the United States can eliminate preventable cancers.

The United Kingdom has given the example to the United States and to other countries.