HPV Action Update

12 October 2016

New Members

A warm welcome to was extended to HPV Action's newest member, the Herpes Viruses Association. HPV Action now has 45 members from a wide range of fields. 

List of clinics participating in MSM HPV vaccination pilot
Public Health England has updated its list of clinics participating in the MSM HPV vaccination pilot programme.  Progress in recruiting clinics looks somewhat slow and large areas of the country remain uncovered. HPVA has organised a meeting later this month for members whose work has a particular focus on MSM and will consider what approach we should be taken to the pilot programme.

 

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Articles on HPV vaccination

Three significant articles have recently appeared on HPV vaccination. The first, on global HPV vaccination coverage in females, is important from our perspective because it shows how men remain at risk of infection if they stray from the UK herd. The other two articles are from this week’s Lancet. The research paper suggests that an 80+% vaccination rate in girls does result in significant herd protection for men but the finding overlooks MSM and it is not clear whether a proper account has been taken of men being exposed to HPV outside of the herd. The comment paper says that ‘It is essential not to diminish the importance of vaccination of boys, especially considering the increasing representation of men in the HPV-related cancer burden, substantial costs of treatment, and lack of screening for early detection of disease.’ It focuses particularly on the rising rates of HPV-related oral cancers in men. 

Now that MPs are about to return to Parliament, HPV Action will resume advocacy work in earnest. They have already been in touch with Caroline Lucas who will be tabling some PQs and seeking a parliamentary debate. She has also suggested a joint letter to the minister from a cross-party group of senior MPs which will be discussed further with her.