JCVI decides not to extend HPV NHS scheme to boys

The interim decision made by the JCVI denies boys vaccination against cancer-causing sexually transmitted infection HPV.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has concluded that vaccinating boys was ‘unlikely to be cost-effective’ in the UK, where uptake in adolescent girls is consistently higher.

The JCVI has been considering whether to include boys on the scheme, which has been offered to all girls aged 12 to 13 since 2008, since 2014.

Although evidence shows that human papilloma virus (HPV) is associated with a number of cancers that affect both sexes, and the vaccination would provide direct protection against many of these cancers, the committee has said in an interim statement that studies show boys are afforded ‘considerable herd protection’ when there is high coverage in girls.

Campaigners have been calling for a gender-neutral approach to the vaccination so that adolescent boys are not left at risk.

Asha Kasliwal, president of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH), a membership body for healthcare professionals who work in sexual and reproductive health, said: “The interim decision to deny boys the HPV vaccination is a huge missed opportunity for improving long-term SRH outcomes and tackling gender inequality. FSRH aims to improve women’s sexual and reproductive health, especially access to contraception. However, HPV affects not only women, but also men, and FSRH firmly believes that men and boys are vital in contributing to secure women’s reproductive health and rights. We support boys and men’s right to access high-quality SRH services and live a life free of sexually-transmitted infections such as HPV. FSRH calls on JCVI to reverse its decision when it convenes in October.”

Peter Baker, director of the campaign group HPV Action, said: “It is astonishing that the government’s vaccination advisory committee has ignored advice from patient organisations, doctors treating men with HPV-related cancers, public health experts and those whose lives have been devastated by HPV.”

The JCVI has said in regard to issues of equality: “The Committee recognises arguments made by stakeholders on the issue of equality of access and that there are additional clinical benefits that could be achieved in males with a gender neutral programme.
The Committee therefore wishes to refer the issue of equality of access to the Department of Health for consideration.”