Dentists call for male HPV vaccinations
Dentists and GPs have come out in support of making the HPV vaccination available to all schoolchildren, regardless of gender.
According to a recent survey from HPV Action, 97% of all dentists are in favour of expanding the programme. It is currently only offered to girls aged 12-13, though a recent new extension programme also offers the vaccination to gay men.
Mick Horton, dean of the Faculty of General Practice (UK), commented that ‘the incidence of oral cancer has increased dramatically over the last decade, and over two-thirds of diagnoses are in men.’
‘HPV is a main causative agent, and the introduction of the NHS vaccination programme for girls has led to a significant reduction in the prevalence of the virus among women. Yet with over 2,000 men a year in the UK diagnosed with an HPV-related cancer – of whom almost half will die from the condition within five years – it is clear that current measures are not working for everyone.’
‘The view of oral health professionals is resounding – many of these lives could and should be saved by also vaccinating boys against HPV,’ he continued.
It is claimed by HPV action that around 80% of sexually active people will be infected by HPV during their lifetime.
MPs have recently appealed to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt in an open letter, asking him to widen the programme and offer everyone in the UK access to the HPV vaccine.
Peter Baker, HPV Action campaign director, has commented that ‘HPV affects men and women equally and both sexes therefore deserve equal protection though a national vaccination programme. It is now time for the government’s vaccination advisory committee to look up from its financial spreadsheets and act to end the suffering of those men and women affected by easily-preventable diseases caused by HPV.’
HPV Action is appealing to members of the public, particularly parents of young boys, to sign their online petition to demand gender-neutral vaccination. They will be addressing all political parties to ask them to join the fight to allow HPV vaccination for all during the upcoming General Election campaign.
