JABS FOR THE BOYS

The HPV vaccine has been offered to school aged girls for over ten years now; from September 2019 the vaccine will also be offered to year 8 boys. This is because the evidence is clear that the HPV vaccine helps protect both boys and girls from HPV related cancers. Nikki Wilinski who co-ordinates the HPV vaccine programme in Liverpool tells us more...

MC: What is HPV?

NW: It’s the name given to a group of viruses. HPV infections can be spread by any skin-to-skin contact and are usually found on the fingers, hands, mouth and genitals.

This means the virus can be spread during any kind of intimate contact including touching with another person who may already carry the virus. Not all HPV viruses cause cancer but some can. It’s a hidden virus and you may never know that you carry or have it.

MC: Why were girls vaccinated first?

NW: 99.7 per cent of cervical cancers and 70 per cent of vaginal and vulvar cancers are caused by infection with a high-risk type of HPV so it’s vital to protect young women before they become sexually active.

MC: Why are boys only being offered the jab now?

NW: We’ve since learned that HPV infection causes 90 per cent of anal cancers and 60 per cent of penile cancers. It can also cause head and neck cancer. We needed to ensure boys were protected too.

MC: How does it work?

NW: The vaccine stimulates your immune system to produce antibodies. They lay dormant in your body ready to protect you if you come into contact with the virus.

MC: Is it for people who have lots of partners?

NW: Not at all – you might have one long term partner who happens to be a carrier and they can unknowingly pass it on, condoms do not protect against HPV viruses.

MC: Is the vaccination safe? Nikki Wilinski with patient.

NW: Yes. There’s been a lot of research and more than 80 million vaccinations have been given worldwide. Authorities around the world, including the World Health Organization (WHO) have monitored the use of the HPV vaccine very closely for many years. You can ask your school or immunisation nurse if you have concerns.

MC: When is the vaccination given?

NW: The national programme offers it in school at Year 8.

MC: How do you explain it to boys?

NW: We discuss the vaccination in school assemblies and explain that it’s to protect them into adult life. We explain that the vaccination is like making soldiers (antibodies) to create an army ready to fight off the virus should they be exposed when they’re older. It’s estimated the programme will prevent more than 4,000 cervical cancers and almost 50,000 non-cervical cancers by 2058.

WHY ARE BOYS NOW GETTING THE JAB?

Because the programme to vaccinate teenage girls, and reduce cervical cancers, has proved very successful.

There has been a reduction in HPV infections, genital warts and pre-cancerous growths in teenage girls and young women since the vaccine was introduced.

Other groups, like teenage boys, have seen benefits too because the virus is not being passed on to them.

Source: bbc.co.uk/news/health