Shanghai fully launches HPV vaccination for males aged 9 to 26

(ECNS) -- Vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV) for males aged nine to 26 was fully launched in Shanghai on Thursday.

Dongdong (alias), a nine-year-old boy companied by his mother, got vaccinated at the Obstetrics & Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University on the same day.

According to Yang Yulin, director of Shanghai Center for Woman and Children’s Health, the public is more sensitive to the dangers of HPV infection for the female population, but in fact men are also exposed to the threat of diseases caused by HPV infection.

“Persistent infection with high-risk types of HPV might not only lead to cervical cancer but also trigger various male diseases,” said Hua Keqin, a doctor from the Obstetrics & Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University. She highlighted statistics showing that 88 percent of anal cancers are linked to persistent HPV infection, while approximately 90 percent of genital warts are associated with HPV6 and HPV11 infections.

Fu Hua, a professor at the School of Public Health, Fudan University, said vaccination is the most effective way to prevent cervical cancer.

“Studies abroad have shown that vaccination of both genders can significantly reduce the HPV infection rates, thus cutting down screening and treatment costs of the disease and achieving the goal of reducing eliminating cervical cancer in a shorter time,” Fu said.

He also noted that vaccinating is also a trend of achieving herd immunity against HPV infection which can effectively reduce the overall social medical burden.

Dongdong’s mother said vaccinating against HPV is not only responsible for children’s health, but also helps reduce the risk of HPV transmission.

As important carriers of HPV, men not only face health risks themselves but also transmit the virus to their partners after being infected.

Many provinces in China, including Hunan, Guangdong, Gansu, and Zhejiang, have launched male vaccination program against HPV.