New Vaccine for Boys Can Prevent Cervical Cancer in Women

For years the human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has been administered to girls to prevent them from cervical cancer but recently the HPV vaccine is being administered to boys as well in a few countries including the United States.

This is because immunizing boys against HPV can also reduce the infection risks for girls, adding to the overall protective effect of the vaccine for cervical cancer.

In Bhutan girls have been the prime focus for the vaccination. HPV vaccines are given as a series of three shots over 6 months to protect against HPV infection and the health problems that HPV infection can cause. Two vaccines (Cervarix and Gardasil) protect against cervical cancers in women. One vaccine (Gardasil) also protects against genital warts and cancers of the anus, vagina and vulva. Both vaccines are available for females. Only Gardasil is available for males.

In Bhutan HPV vaccine for girls was introduced in 2010 with a mass vaccination campaign for girls aged 12 to 18 years and later in 2012. However, Bhutan is not yet ready to take the step.

Speaking to Business Bhutan, the director general of public health, Dr. Dorji Wangchuk, said Bhutan will not be able to introduce the HPV vaccine for boys because of the cost and also the need for more international evidence.

“Right now we are trying to address the acute problem faced by women that is cervical cancer” he said.

He also said that it is true that boys are also the carrier of the virus but they do not suffer as much as women do, therefore the attention is currently given only to girls aged 12 to 18 years.

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