A new global initiative is calling for a more ambitious, ethical and equitable approach that will see more boys and men gain access to cancer-preventing Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and protect more people worldwide from HPV-related cancers.

Launched by non-profit organisations, Global Action on Men’s Health and NOMAN is an Island: Race to End HPV, a new six-point plan calls for the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other health organisations and individual governments not currently providing equitable, gender-neutral vaccination (GNV) programmes to reconsider their position with the goal of achieving GNV for HPV worldwide by 2030.

Over 20 influential organisations working in the field have already backed this call to action.

The announcement is being made at a meeting held at the World Cancer Congress (WCC) in Geneva, Switzerland, where global leaders in oncology come together to learn about the latest successful cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care interventions.

“To protect both women and men effectively, it is essential to vaccinate boys, as well as girls, and with political will, worldwide GNV is achievable by 2030,” said Peter Baker, Director, Global Action on Men’s Health.

“Around 1 in 5 men worldwide carry a cancer-causing HPV infection. Men are much more likely to carry the virus, and to transmit it, than women.” 

HPV causes around 5 percent of all cancer cases worldwide, with an estimated 180,000 cancer cases in men and 660,000 cases in women annually.

While the narrative surrounding HPV vaccination has traditionally focused on women, it is essential the conversation now includes the need to vaccinate boys as well as girls.

Even though the most common HPV-related malignancy is cervical cancer, the virus can also cause many other types, including penile, anal and head and neck cancers.

HPV vaccination programmes currently exist in 140 countries.

Most of these programmes are in high-income countries, and only half are gender neutral.

“The clue is in the name; human papillomavirus not female papillomavirus, and we have the tools to protect everyone, regardless of sex or gender, from the cancers caused by HPV,” said David Winterflood, Director, NOMAN is an Island: Race to End HPV.

“It is time for policymakers to follow the science and embrace the robust and overwhelming evidence of the public health benefits of HPV GNV. Not only do GNV programmes enable us to eliminate all HPV cancers faster, they are more resilient, simplify public health messaging and help de-stigmatise the falsehood that HPV is a female-only problem.”

The six-point plan urges global policymakers to ensure equitable access to HPV vaccination among both boys and girls. Specifically, it proposes:

1. HPV must be understood, and responded to, as a threat to the health of all sexes and genders.
2. GNV should be viewed from the perspective of its potential to eliminate high-risk, oncogenic HPV types, thereby accelerating the elimination of not only cervical cancer, but all cancers caused by HPV.
3. By 2028, global policymakers should have reviewed the issue of GNV with a view to recommending its implementation. WHO should include boys in the primary target population for HPV vaccination.
4. By 2030, all countries currently without an HPV vaccination programme should have introduced HPV vaccination on a gender-neutral basis, while countries currently with a girls-only programme should have transitioned to GNV.
5. Health partnerships between countries with established GNV programmes and lower-income
6. countries should be established along with capacity-building initiatives to support the wider implementation of GNV.
7. A greater focus is needed on increasing vaccine uptake to at least 90% for all, a target most likely to be achieved through school-based vaccination programmes.

The six-point plan has already been endorsed by over 20 organisations, including: Cancer Alliance (South Africa), European Association of Urology (EAU), European Cancer Organisation (ECO), European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual & Reproductive Rights (EPF), Eve Appeal (UK), Habait Shel Bar (Israel), Head and Neck Cancer Alliance (USA), HPV Cancers Alliance (USA), HPV Global Action (Canada), HPV Prevention and Control Board (Belgium), International Anal Neoplasia Society (IANS), International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC), International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), Men’s Foundation (South Africa), Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Coalition for HPV Elimination, Movember, Outreach Scout Foundation (Malawi), Population Services International, Qatar Cancer Society, Swedish Cancer Society, Throat Cancer Foundation (UK), World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA).

Statements of Support from Partner Organisations

“The Men’s Foundation of South Africa endorses and welcomes the call for both the global healthcare community, as well as the South African Dept of Health, to bridge the gender gap for access to GNV vaccinations as a step towards prioritizing the elimination of all cancers associated with HPV. While we strive for a Gender equal society, we cannot continue to ignore the discrimination of boys and men in cancer prevention through immunisation programmes and trust that policy makers recognise this need for inclusion of men and boys.” – The Men’s Foundation (South Africa)

“The MENA Coalition for HPV Elimination fully endorses the call for global gender-neutral HPV vaccination. By ensuring that both boys and girls have access to the HPV vaccine, we can significantly reduce the incidence of HPV-related cancers and promote equitable health outcomes across the MENA region.” – The MENA Coalition for HPV Elimination 

“The European Association of Urology is in full support of the global call for gender-neutral HPV vaccination. As urologists, we treat men who are impacted by HPV associated urological cancers such as penile cancer and, as such, we know the harm caused to lives of patients and their families. Vaccination is a tool that helps to protect boys and men from HPV-related cancers, whilst also protecting girls and women too. From our perspective, vaccination targeted at boys, men, girls and women not only promotes better health outcomes for everyone but is also a demonstration of a truly equitable approach to healthcare.” – The European Association of Urology

Source: Global Action on Men’s Health and NOMAN is an Island