On 16 February 2026, detikcom reported that \u201c11-year-old boys will\nreceive free HPV vaccines starting in 2027\u201d. This was followed on 24\nMarch 2026 by an article from detikcom titled \u201cMen Also Must Be\nVaccinated Against HPV\u201d.<\/p>\n
The reasoning behind these two articles is the concept that men can\nalso become infected with the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Of course,\ninfected men will not develop cervical cancer.<\/p>\n
However, there is a risk of transmitting it to their sexual partners.\nSubsequently, those sexual partners are at risk of suffering from\ncervical cancer if the HPV infection does not heal completely.<\/p>\n
This information requires a response to enhance public\nunderstanding.<\/p>\n
First, the concept of HPV vaccination for girls is linked to the\nrelationship between Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection in the\ngenital area and the occurrence of cervical cancer. When an HPV\ninfection occurs, thanks to the body\u2019s immunity, around 90% of sufferers\ncan overcome it well, and the virus disappears completely.<\/p>\n
But in a small portion, a latent infection occurs: not severe, but\nongoing. After this latent infection persists for a long time, changes\ngradually occur in the cervical cells, which then progressively become\ncancer cells.<\/p>\n
Thus, HPV infection is considered a risk factor for cervical cancer.\nSeveral reports state that the role of HPV as a risk factor for cervical\ncancer is over 90%, even up to 99%. This means its role is\nsignificant.<\/p>\n
Other factors that also play a major role in these changes are\ntriggered by sexual activity. The higher the sexual activity, in the\nsense of greater frequency of exposure to HPV-infected cells, the higher\nthe risk of cancer.<\/p>\n
Not only in the cervix. HPV infection can also spread to the oral\ncavity or anus. Therefore, cancer can also occur in those areas, just as\nin the cervix.<\/p>\n
Thus, HPV vaccination is given at an age before entering the sexually\nactive period. Its nature is to prevent HPV infection, so it does not\nbecome a risk factor that, combined with sexual activity, increases the\nrisk of cervical cancer.<\/p>\n
For girls, the theory, concept, and HPV vaccination programme are\nlogical and rational. But what about boys? They don\u2019t have a uterus,\nafter all?<\/p>\n
The developed concept is that boys can also become infected with HPV.\nDuring sexual activity, infected boys can transmit it to their partners.\nFollowing the concept of HPV vaccination for women, boys also require\nHPV vaccination.<\/p>\n
The target according to that concept is to build herd immunity.\nMeaning, to add protection for women from the risk of HPV infection by\npreventing HPV infection in boys.<\/p>\n
Is this concept already valid?<\/p>\n
The idea of HPV vaccination for boys for the purpose of herd immunity\nfirst emerged in 2011 by Brisson et al.\u00a0(The Journal of Infectious\nDiseases, Volume 204, Issue 3, 1 August 2011). But the study concluded\nthat:<\/p>\n
The benefit of vaccinating boys decreased with improved vaccination\ncoverage in girls. Given the important predicted herd immunity impact of\nvaccinating girls under moderate to high vaccine coverage, the potential\nincremental gains of vaccinating boys are limited.<\/p>\n
My understanding is that the benefits of HPV vaccination for boys\ndecrease if the HPV vaccination coverage among girls has already\nincreased. Because the herd immunity achieved among girls is already\nmoderate to high, the potential benefits from giving HPV vaccination to\nboys become limited.<\/p>\n
In other words, the additional benefit for protecting girls is not\nsignificant.<\/p>\n
Later, there were several similar ideas, but they have not yielded\nsignificant results. In December 2022, the WHO stated that the primary\ntarget for HPV vaccination is recommended for girls aged 9-14 years\nbefore becoming sexually active. The target is to achieve at least 80%\ncoverage of the population. With such coverage, it also reduces the risk\nof HPV infection in men.<\/p>\n
Secondary vaccination targets for adult women, boys, adult men, or\nmen who have sex with men are only recommended if \u201cfeasible and\naffordable\u201d (if possible and affordable).<\/p>\n
From the above explanation, the WHO recommends that HPV vaccination\nbe part of a comprehensive strategy to eliminate cervical cancer. HPV\nvaccine must be included in the national immunisation programme, and the\nmain target is girls aged 9-14 years.<\/p>\n
Priority groups include individuals with immune disorders and those\nwho have experienced sexual abuse. Vaccination can also be expanded to\nsecondary targets such as older women, boys, and adult men, only if this\nis indeed possible and affordable.<\/p>\n
In Canada, a statement on 24 July 2024 strongly recommends one dose\nof HPV vaccination for girls aged 9-20 years, and two doses for ages\n21-26 years. For those with compromised immune function\n(immunocompromised), a third dose is added. Also for HIV sufferers.<\/p>\n
For those over 27 years old, it is given after discussion and\nagreement between healthcare workers and the recipient. But there is\nstill no HPV vaccination programme for boys or adult men. This is very\nmuch in line with WHO recommendations.<\/p>\n
Similarly, in July 2024, the US CDC recommended the same vaccination\nschedule for girls as in Canada.<\/p>\n
In November 2024, there was a publication by Naidoo et al.\u00a0that\nspecifically discusses HPV vaccine for boys. Titled: Breaking barriers:\nwhy including boys and men is key to HPV prevention. Its content also\naligns with a publication in February 2025 by Patra et al.\u00a0titled: HPV\nand Male Cancer: Pathogenesis, Prevention and Impact.<\/p>\n
Both explain that the body\u2019s ability to clear HPV infection is on\naverage higher than in women. But indeed, the male body<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/hpv-vaccination-for-boys-is-it-rational-1774486273", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }