The Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has recommended the extension of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination programme to men who have sex with men (MSM) aged up to 45 years.
The JCVI concluded that a targeted HPV vaccination programme would be cost effective to reduce the burden of HPV related diseases. Prisoners who are MSM will also be able to access the vaccine, as well as transgender women. This recommendation is subject to the vaccination programme being made available at a cost-effective price. The Department of Health will consider a recommendation to offer the vaccine to other at-risk individuals including those who are HIV positive, and sex workers, on a case by case basis.
Commenting on the recommendation, Peter Greenhouse, consultant in sexual health, said, “This is a great step forward in preventing the full range of HPV-related diseases in men who have sex with men, who haven’t benefitted from the very successful school vaccination programme for young women. Although young heterosexual men will be less likely to get genital warts in the UK, they remain at risk of contracting HPV when travelling abroad, so we need to offer protection to all boys, regardless of sexual orientation.
“The JCVI continues to review the cost benefits of extending the programme to boys, in the same way it has been offered to girls over the last seven years, to provide the most comprehensive protection, but apparently will not report until 2017. We urge them to speed up the process and not to forget the risks of sexual exposure abroad in their mathematical modelling.”
Sanofi Pasteur MSD will work with the DH and PHE to ensure a smooth implementation of the programme to MSM.
