Atlantico: How does the Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine reduce the risk of cancers other than cervical cancer in young women?
In what ways is vaccination against Does HPV benefit men, and which types of cancers are most impacted?
We used to consider that vaccinating boys during adolescence was purely altruistic, to reduce the risk of Papillomavirus later in their female partner if she was not protected herself. We see that this aspect of the vaccination of boys persists of course, but that in addition boys have a direct benefit from vaccination because they are protected against all cancers linked to the Papillomavirus and which can affect them like women. We are talking here about ENT and anal cancers.
What evidence supports the effectiveness of the HPV vaccine in preventing cancers other than those affecting the cervix?
Evidence of the benefits of vaccination against the Papillomavirus (HPV) comes from a recent study presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Oncology currently being held in Chicago. This study covers more than 3.4 million North American citizens aged 9 to 39, conducted between 2010 and 2023, half of whom were vaccinated against the Papillomavirus. There were as many women as men included in the study. Vaccinated patients, both men and women, saw a significant reduction in the risk of cancers linked to Papillomavirus.
How has perception and acceptance of the HPV vaccine changed with increasing awareness of its benefits for both sexes?
This study is major, both in terms of its scale and the scope of its results. We have long shown the direct individual benefit of vaccination in young adolescents against genital Papillomavirus infection and against cervical cancer, which remains a major cause of mortality throughout the world where women are insufficiently vaccinated. The direct individual benefit in boys has not yet been demonstrated with such scientific force. Vaccination coverage against HPV was struggling to increase among adolescents in all countries in the world (only 11% of boys vaccinated against HPV in France). We now have a powerful public health argument to convince adolescents (2 doses 2 months apart between 11 and 14 years old, a 3rd dose six months later if started after the age of 15) of both sexes to get vaccinated against Papillomavirus for their greatest direct benefit. The HPV vaccine can drastically reduce all cancers linked to Papillomavirus in both sexes. These cancers are not pleasant, they are serious, debilitating, and cause deaths that are now preventable. The vaccine is also remarkably well tolerated.
