A few days ago we learned that the United Kingdom wants to vaccinate all male adolescents between 12 and 13 years old against the human papillomavirus (HPV), a vaccine that currently in that country is only given to girls. With this measure, the English health authorities intend to save the lives of hundreds of men who die a year due to diseases derived from this virus.
The Spanish Association of Pediatrics takes time recommending vaccinating boys too, doing so would not only protect them from suffering certain tumors, but it would prevent the spread of the virus in women, since man is their main transmitter through sexual intercourse.
What is HPV and what diseases does it produce?
Human papillomavirus (HPV) or papillomavirus, It is transmitted by both men and women during sexual intercourse, and responsible for different diseases.
It is estimated that more than half of sexually active people get this virus at some time in their life, although in most cases the infection is due without problems. But if the virus persists in the body for many years (between 20 and 30) or if it belongs to certain types, It could cause the appearance of malignant tumors.
In women, the virus is related in most cases with cervical cancer. In men it is associated with penile, anus and oropharyngeal tumors. And in both sexes it can cause genital warts, a benign but annoying and frequent condition.People vaccinated against HPV develop defenses that prevent infection with these viruses in case of contact, although we must not forget that not all viruses involved in HPV tumors are contained in the vaccines available today.
On the other hand, it is also important to note that the HPV vaccine does not prevent other sexually transmitted diseases, such as HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, genital herpes ... So it is essential to talk and educate our children to lead a healthy sex life.
United Kingdom joins the list of countries that already vaccinate children against HPV
As we have seen, through sexual intercourse man is a transmitter of disease, so vaccinating them would also protect women, in addition to preventing the appearance of associated diseases in the male mentioned above.
"It is true that the percentage is higher in women, but that does not mean that this pathogen does not concern men and does not represent a threat to them, being responsible for a significant percentage of penile, anus and otolaryngological tumors. In addition, the man is the main transmitter of the virus to women, vaccinating them, they also benefit "- notes the coordinator of the Advisory Committee of Vaccines of the AEP, Dr. David Moreno.
As we announced at the beginning, in the United Kingdom they want to start vaccinating children between 12 and 13 from next September. Total vaccination of 400,000 male adolescents is expected, which would be added to girls who have already received the vaccine in this country since 2008.
But the United Kingdom is not the first to include vaccination against HPV in men, as other countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia or Austria (to name just a few examples) already vaccinate children systematically.
Following the publication of the news about the imminent vaccination of English children against the human papillomavirus, the experts of our country have praised the measure and have taken the opportunity to emphasize the importance of this vaccine among adolescents:
Britain includes young men in vaccination against #VPH
- Pepe Serrano (@PepePediatre) July 23, 2018
For preventing diseases in men, for equity, for controlling the burden of disease, for decreasing transmission and because #VaccinesWork //t.co/3gXjWRBtAc
Vaccination #VPH also in men. After Australia, now in the United Kingdom. #vaccineswork @PepePediatre //t.co/GVugUsgupl
- Begoña Redruello (@bredruel) July 23, 2018
United Kingdom extends vaccination to men. For equity and cost effectiveness, even with high coverage in girls. One more step in the fight against #VPH #vaccineswork //t.co/vqwrldPwaJ
- Ignacio Salamanca (@IgnSalamanca) July 20, 2018
The HPV vaccine in ♂️ is also recommended for something. Let's see when it is included in the #vaccineswork #Vacunas funded programs //t.co/bCISuQXMYY
- Health Potions (@AngelesRzvz) July 23, 2018
The 10 reasons to vaccinate HPV children
In our country, the HPV vaccine is included in the official calendar only for girls and adolescents aged 11 to 14 years. But the Spanish Association of Pediatrics also recommends vaccinating children, although if the parents opt for this measure, at the moment they will have to pay for the vaccine out of pocket.
As we read in the 2018 review report of the Bases and Recommendations of AEP vaccination, these are the 10 reasons why you should choose to vaccinate men against the human papillomavirus:
1) Important fraction of cases in men with HPV-related cancer pathology: of all cases of oncological pathology related to HPV, one third corresponds to the male.
2) Head and neck cancer and increasing anal cancer, especially in men.
3) HPV-related head and neck cancer: The involvement of HPV in head and neck cancer, classically calculated in 20-30% of cases, seems to be greater than previously thought, involving the entire airway.
4) There is no screening of the other oncological pathologies related to HPV: there are no alternative measures of screening for HPV-related cancer in men (penis, anal, head and neck), as on the contrary occurs with cervical cancer in women
5) Impact on genital warts in the male: half of the cases of genital warts occur in men
6) The Group immunity generated with girls-only vaccination is incomplete for men due to several reasons:
There is an average of 20-25 percent of unvaccinated chicab that are potential transmitters of HPV to heterosexual boys.
There are countries that do not have HPV vaccination included in girls, and given the high mobility and intersex interaction of young people today, contact with unvaccinated foreign girls is very likely
The group immunity effect observed in some countries (such as Australia) has not been observed in European countries that have studied this effect. It is speculated that the high mobility of young people in Europe makes this potential benefit difficult or impossible
Gay men cannot benefit from the group immunity that can be generated by vaccinating girls only
7) Improves group immunity in women: given that, for different reasons, there are girls who are not vaccinated, those with heterosexual practices may be protected indirectly with male vaccination.
8) Help the global eradication of HPV infection: Vaccinating girls and boys will collaborate on the target goal of eradicating HPV infection in humans. The boys are also the biggest transmitters of the virus worldwide.
9) Equality - sexual equity: If the vaccine protects against HPV-related cancer in both sexes, it is ethical to include both sexes in the recommendations.
10) Authorization for the use of HPV vaccines in men and experience in other countries: Currently, the three available HPV vaccines are authorized for use in men from the age of nine. There are several countries that have included the systematic vaccination against HPV in men, such as the USA, Canada, Australia, Argentina, Austria, Switzerland ...
So, It is essential that parents become aware of the importance of the HPV vaccine and thus increase the vaccination coverage in the girls of our country, since for the moment, and according to the AEP, the threshold of 80 percent has not been exceeded.
But apart from the vaccine among adolescents, it is advisable to also inform us about the importance of vaccinating our sons, since with this we will be contributing to raising group immunity and protecting them in the future from diseases associated with this virus.
IStock photos
Via AEP
In Babies and More The human papillomavirus vaccine: everything you need to know, From A to Z: All childhood vaccines from 0 to 14 years old
