Boys and men, transgender people, and individuals living with HIV may benefit greatly from being offered the HPV vaccine up to the age of 26. This is according to the Public Health Agency after investigating the matter.
The Public Health Agency (PHA) has investigated the benefits of providing a special effort to offer more boys and men the HPV vaccine at the request of the government.
HPV can cause an infection that develops into cancer. By vaccinating a sufficient portion of the population against HPV, which causes nearly all cases of cervical cancer, there is a chance to eradicate the disease.
Today, all fifth-grade students are offered vaccination. Children who miss it have the opportunity to vaccinate themselves free of charge up to the age of 18. However, boys born in 2008 and earlier, as well as all those who have turned 18, need to pay for the vaccinations themselves.
The PHA believes after its investigation that there is a need for vaccination also for men, including men who have sex with men, transgender people, and individuals living with HIV – if they are vaccinated up to the age of 26.
According to the agency, it can be expected to have good health effects at a reasonable cost. Vaccination of older individuals can make a difference in individual cases, but the protective effect on a group level against cancer at vaccination ages from 27 is uncertain according to the agency.
