HPV infections may be eliminated by vaccinating both boys and girls
HPV infections may be eliminated by using gender-neutral vaccination strategy, finds a new study;
Sweden: HPV infection is caused by the human papillomavirus, DNA virus from the papillomavirus family. There are more than 100 varieties of human papillomavirus (HPV). Some types of HPV infection cause warts and some can cause cervical and oropharyngeal cancer.
A Swedish-Finnish study published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases shows that the most oncogenic HPV types can be eliminated, but only if both girls and boys are vaccinated.
The researchers conducted a randomized study in 2007, which included about 80,000 young people between the ages of 12 and 15 from 250 schools in 33 towns to take part. In 11 towns, both boys and girls were given HPV vaccination, in another 11 towns only girls were vaccinated, and in 11 towns the participants were vaccinated against a totally different virus (control).
"Our study is unique because the entire population of the communities included in the study was invited to take part, and the choice of vaccination strategy was randomized by the community," stated Matti Lehtinen, a researcher at the Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, who led the study. "The results have definitely influenced the decision about offering HPV vaccination to boys, which more and more countries are also deciding," she added.
Disclaimer: This website is primarily for healthcare professionals. The content here does not replace medical advice and should not be used as medical, diagnostic, endorsement, treatment, or prescription advice. Medical science evolves rapidly, and we strive to keep our information current. If you find any discrepancies, please contact us at corrections@medicaldialogues.in. Read our Correction Policy here. Nothing here should be used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do not endorse any healthcare advice that contradicts a physician's guidance. Use of this site is subject to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Advertisement Policy. For more details, read our Full Disclaimer here.
NOTE: Join us in combating medical misinformation. If you encounter a questionable health, medical, or medical education claim, email us at factcheck@medicaldialogues.in for evaluation.