AsianScientist (Jul. 16, 2012) – In a world first, Australian schoolboys will be able to receive the Gardasil vaccine that until now had been only available to girls.
Gardasil protects against four important genotypes of the human papillomavirus (HPV) and over 23 million people have been vaccinated in more than 70 countries around the world.
Making the announcement at The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, the Australian Minister for Health Tanya Plibersek said providing the HPV vaccine to boys would protect them against a range of cancers and increase the effectiveness of the vaccination program for girls.
Plibersek said the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee had recommended last year that the HPV vaccination program be extended to boys following a review of its cost effectiveness.
Boys aged 12 to 13 will receive the vaccine through school-based programs under the National Immunization Program. Year 9 boys will also be able to get the vaccine at school under a catch-up program for the next two years.
Professor Ian Frazer, the inventor of the vaccine, said that he was pleased to see Australia leading the way with such an important public health measure.
“The addition of the HPV vaccine for young males on the National Immunization Program is good news for the young men of Australia. This is a very safe and effective vaccine and vaccinating boys will also further benefit women who have not been vaccinated through herd immunity.”
A similar HPV vaccination program for girls was established in 2007 and is already showing promising results in reducing pre-cancerous conditions, said Frazer.
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Source: Diamantina Institute.
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