Tue 1 Jul 2014 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
New Pharmac regulations mean Gardasil vaccinations are now free to HIV positive people aged under 26. Gardasil protects against infection from two strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) that can cause anal, penile, cervical and mouth and throat cancers, and two strains that cause most anogenital warts. People living with HIV experience rates of anal cancer that are many times higher than those who are not. It is believed that New Zealand is the first country to publically fund HPV vaccination for people living with HIV. The change has been welcomed by the Gay Men’s Sexual Health research group at the University of Auckland which advocated for broadening access in December last year. “HPV is the world’s most common sexually transmitted infection that’s easily transmitted by touching. Most people will be exposed over their lifetime” says spokesman Adrian Ludlam. “Generally people’s immune system clears these infections, but people with compromised immune systems may not clear infection as readily and it can persist, in some cases causing cancers.” Ludlam says Gardasil is safe and effective and urged those eligible to ask their GP or HIV clinician about HPV vaccination. The earlier vaccination occurs the more protective it is because exposure to HPV rises with sexual experience. From the age of 26 the price reverts to approximately $450-500 for the full three dose course. Prior to 1 July the government funded Gardasil only for young women aged 12-18 primarily to protect against cervical cancer. Internationally gay men experience anal cancer rates that are at least as high as cervical cancer rates among women. The Gay Men’s Sexual Health research group had also advocated extending Gardasil access to gay and bisexual men and to all people living with HIV regardless of age or sex. “This is a safe and effective anti-cancer vaccine. Pharmac seem to have said this is where the priority is for now. We believe the case is very strong for further extensions,” Ludlam says. He is part of a group at the University of Auckland embarking on a 12 month feasibility study measuring HPV infection, awareness and vaccine acceptability among men accessing health care, including those living with HIV.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Tuesday, 1st July 2014 - 3:14pm