Cancer vaccinations for boys by 2012?

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) will determine if the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, Gardasil, should be included in the National Immunisation Program for boys.

Gardasil is currently administered to girls when they begin high school to prevent cervical cancer. HPV, however, also causes throat cancer, genital and anal warts, and cancer of the penis.

Gardasil is approved in Australia for use in boys and men aged nine to 26. Without subsidy, it costs $450 a treatment, and most parents are unaware of the protection it offers boys.

Professor Andrew Grulich, of the National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, told the Star Observer that few boys outside those from medical families were being immunised.

“The boys who are getting it more than any others are the sons of doctors because doctors are aware of the enormous benefits of this vaccine for boys,” Grulich said. “There is absolutely no doubt it will prevent most anal cancer, that it will prevent quite a bit of penile cancer, and that it will prevent almost all anal and genital warts.”

Grulich said HPV was now responsible for the lion’s share of cancers in the back of the throat in Australia due to lower rates of smoking, and oral sex growing in acceptability.

“Those cancers have been increasing over the last 20 or 30 years. Previously we thought perhaps 20 or 30 percent of those cancers were caused by HPV and now it’s more like 70 percent.

“It’s really important that this vaccine should be given before the onset of sexual activity because once a man becomes sexually active this virus is so common that he will become infected with it really quite quickly.

“It should be part of the school vaccination program. It should be given at exactly the same age as girls, and on the same day as the girls are done.”

CSL Limited, the company that holds the licence for the drug in Australia, believes it has developed a cost-effective submission, and is hopeful of a positive recommendation from PBAC.

If PBAC supports the submission, it will go to the health minister by midyear.

Sharon McHale, CSL’s senior director of public affairs, said with Government agreement, males could be included in the immunisation program by next year.

“The prevalence and severity of HPV disease in males is considerable and justifies a universal vaccination program,” McHale said.

“A gender-neutral vaccination strategy will have the greatest impact on HPV disease and is in the best interest of public health.”