Vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) in women is included in the official calendars of all European countries, but some have also decided to administer it to children, since both men and women are transmitters of this virus.
However, despite the recommendations of the experts of the Vaccine Advisory Committee of the AEP (CAV-AEP), the Ministry of Health has published a report in which the administration of this vaccine in men in a systematic way is not included. Thus, for the moment in our country, adolescents between 11 and 14 years of age will continue to be vaccinated exclusively following the official calendar.
Men and women, transmitters of HPV responsible for diseases in both sexes
Human papillomavirus (HPV) or papillomavirus, It is transmitted during sex, and can cause different diseases in both men and women, from benign to very serious.
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 expires 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.
The vaccine is especially effective when the infection has not yet occurred, and this can only be guaranteed when sexual intercourse has not yet begun. Hence the importance of vaccinating preteens and teenagers.
In Babies and more Vaccines are also essential in adolescence: what they are and when they are administeredIn women, the virus is related in most cases with cervical cancer, while in men it is associated with penile, anus and oropharyngeal tumors. In both sexes, the virus can cause genital warts, a benign but annoying and frequent condition.
But despite the fact that both men and women are transmitters of the virus, and that both sexes can suffer the consequences of associated diseases, the HPV vaccine in our country It is only included in the official calendar for girls.
Why the AEP recommends vaccination of men
As a transmitter of the disease, vaccinating men would also be protecting women, in addition to preventing the occurrence of the diseases just mentioned.
Therefore, the Advisory Committee for Vaccines of the AEP and several Vaccination Committees of other countries have been advising this measure for some time:
"The fact of not vaccinating men and trusting that the group immunity generated by the vaccination of girls will also protect the male, means underestimating the problem that HPV infection represents for the male population," says Dr. Moreno ."It is true that the percentage is higher in women, but that It does not mean that this pathogen does not concern men and does not pose 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 read in the 2018 review report of the Bases and Recommendations of vaccination of the AEP, there are plenty of reasons why men should also be vaccinated against the human papillomavirus, as well as being aware of the importance of vaccination in girls since, at the moment, coverage has not exceeded the 80 percent threshold.
However, and as we can read in the report published by the Ministry of Health, The vaccine for male adolescents will not be included in the official vaccination schedules, and it is only recommended in cases of men who have sexual relations with other men (MSM), as it is considered a high-risk population:
"The incidence of anal cancer is higher in high-risk populations, including HIV-positive MSM, HIV-negative MSM, HIV-positive people in general and women with a history of cervical cancer. HPV has been detected. in 90% of anal cancers and the most frequent genotype is HPV 16 (70% of anal cancers) "
Australia could eradicate cervical cancer in the coming years
Currently, all European countries contemplate the vaccination of girls against HPV, but also, according to ECDC data, this vaccine is also included in boys and teenage boys in the vaccine calendars of:
Austria, for children between 9-11 years old
Croatia, for 14 year olds
Czech Republic, for children between 13 and 14 years old
Liechtenstein, for children between 12 and 14 years old.
Also Belgium, Italy and Switzerland have approved the vaccination of men against HPV, and recently they did Germany and the United Kingdom, although as we can read in this information published by the Advisory Committee of Vaccines of the AEP, both countries have yet to determine when and how they will start vaccinating children.
Outside European borders, other countries such as the United States, Canada and Australia already vaccinate children systematically against HPV.
In Babies and more, adolescent boys in the UK will be vaccinated against HPV, a measure also recommended by the AEPThe case of Australia is especially significant, since it was not only the first country to start free vaccination against HPV in women (2007), but in 2013 the health authorities decided to also incorporate the vaccine for men.
Thus, and according to recent data published by researchers, in the next 20 years Australia could end up eradicating cervical cancer, since a decrease of up to 77 percent of the types of viruses involved in this disease has already been observed.
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