BDA: progress on HPV but no breakthrough
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- Published: Tuesday, 15 December 2015 07:49
- Written by News Editor
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The British Dental Association (BDA) has welcomed news the Government will extend the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine to men who have sex with men (MSM) aged 16-40 via genitourinary medicine clinics, but stressed that a real breakthrough will require the vaccine to be extended to all boys.
HPV has been linked to 1 in 20 cases of cancer in the UK. MSM between ages of 16-40, the highest risk group for HPV, will be able to access the vaccine. Health campaigners have called for a gender-neutral approach to vaccination, which would ensure 400,000 school-aged boys are not left at risk. It is estimated that extending the vaccine to all school-age boys could be delivered for just £22 million per year.
Dr Graham Stokes, Chair of the BDA Health and Science Committee, said: “Extending vaccination to men is welcome progress but not the breakthrough we need. We know that by the time adult men reach a sexual health clinic it’s usually too late to protect them from HPV. Blanket immunisation of boys and girls remains the most appropriate response to what is a growing threat to public health. It is simply not cost-effective to leave 400,000 boys at risk. Dentists believe in prevention, and for a modest investment we can ensure both sexes are protected from the agent behind 1 in 20 cancer cases.”
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