HPV vaccine for boys

[Ilovehatecleaning]

Do many boys have this? My two DS will be having it soon but I've read it's quite a new thing to give to boys. I'm all for it. My DM thinks it's really just for girls. Is uptake high among boys?

It is a new thing but given how many cancers it is a cause for it is a good thing everyone gets it

13yr old DS has had his, as have all his schools friends it's fantastic they have the opportunity, it could potentially eradicate cervical cancer if the uptake is good.

My DS is having it next week, it is a new thing for boys but seems like a good idea.

My Year 8 DS has just had it as did all his classmates.

DS(15) had his a few years ago.

The uptake is now similar for boys and girls, it gives boys protection for themselves not just to prevent cervical cancer, the virus can cause a range of genital and oral cancers as well as genital warts, so genuinely can't see why anyone would turn it down

Yep, they do them at school for my DS.

My Older DC is of the age where just the girls in their year were vaccinated. Now my younger DC has had it, both sexes were vaccinated. I totally agree with getting everyone jabbed

When the HPV vaccine was originally introduced, the cancer risk posed by the virus was perceived as being primarily to women (and to a lesser extent to men who have sex with men). Since no vaccination is completely risk free, it wasn't seen as proportionate to vaccinate all boys against a virus which posed very little risk to the vast majority of them.

Since then the dangers of HPV-related head and neck cancers, which are pretty common and can affect both sexes regardless of sexuality are been better understood, and also the vaccination has been safely given to millions of girls so we better understand the risks. Hence the change.

As well as cervical cancer, HPV infection is responsible for mouth, tonsil, and throat cancers so this is an excellent move.

For *some head and neck cancers

Yes they all do as far as I know. Well I don't know any anti vaxxers

It was introduced for boys a few years ago. I believe it is only going to be one dose going forward too. Previously it was two doses, or three if the first dose was administered after the age of 15.
Studies of the first girls who were vaccinated in about 2008 have shown that cervical cancer diagnosis has been reduced by as much as 90% - fantastic news.
HPV can also cause some head and neck and genital cancers, hence why boys and gay men and now offered the vaccine.
Unfortunately there are still anti-vaxxers out there despite studies showing it works.

Brilliantly effective vaccine. Introduced into the school immunisation programme in 2008 for girls and boys 2019. Uptake similar for both sexes. 2 dose schedule (at present) usually given in Y8 and Y9, 2nd dose administered 6 - 24 months after 1st.

My 15 year old is having it soon. As all are his male friends. Your DM badly needs to give her head a wobble - 'just for girls', indeed...

My DS was 1 year too old to have it at school so instead we've paid privately for him to have it as I think its so important.

@chocolateoranges33 my DS in the same boat as they give it to boys born from Sept 2006 and he was born a few months earlier.
May I ask where you had this done and how much? I see Boots offer it?

HPV also linked to anal cancers in gay men so definitely good for all boys to have the jab.

My year 8 ds has just had his in the last couple of weeks.

It’s not new for boys, other countries have been giving it for years.

From September 2023 it’s expected to go down to one dose only.

Thank you all. You have confirmed what I thought.

It’s a good vaccine regardless of your gender, for protection from genital warts alone I would say it’s a good thing. It may protect their future partners from developing cervical cancer. I really think this vaccine is a good thing for everyone.