Dr. Peter Saxton All young men in New Zealand should be able to access a free vaccine against a virus which causes some cancers and genital warts, to ensure gay youths are covered, according to a leading HIV and public health researcher. Free HPV vaccinations for gay men are being considered by the Pharmacology and Therapeutics Advisory Committee. The vaccine is already available to girls and young women. Straight males subsequently receive indirect protection through "herd immunity." Gay youths are currently left vulnerable. But it is acknowledged that many youths in the target group, which medical experts say should be aged from eleven years upward, may not know their sexuality or could be reluctant to come forward to get vaccinated under a gays-only scheme. "Implementing vaccine uptake among very young gay men who don't feel safe disclosing their sexuality is a challenge but also one that could be overcome by extending coverage to all young men," says Dr Peter Saxton. Saxton this evening said international data highlights the high prevalence of cancer-causing HPV strains among gay men and an elevated prevalence of pre-cancerous anal lesions and cancer. "The vaccine currently offered to young women protects against acquisition of four HPV strains, in particular against HPV 16 which is associated with anal cancer," Saxton says. "There are serious health equity issues raised by having a vaccine that is this effective but not providing it to one of the highest need groups," said Saxton, "especially when gay men receive no indirect benefit through the vaccination of young women". "This is a cancer vaccine," he emphasises. "Any approach to covering gay men will have its imperfections but we shouldn't lose sight of the enormous public health benefits that are possible."
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Sunday, 14th July 2013 - 11:09pm