HPV vaccine: Why both girls and boys should be vaccinated against cancer

Across the world, doctors and researchers are fighting an intense battle against an invisible enemy that claims the lives of hundreds of thousands of women every year. The enemy is the human papillomavirus – or simply HPV. But there's good news: We have a weapon that works. The question is whether we're using it well enough. Particularly here in the UK, where we're usually pretty good at keeping on top of our vaccinations.

HPV vaccine: More than just cervical cancer

When we talk about the HPV vaccination, most people immediately think of cervical cancer. And it's true – the HPV virus is responsible for nearly all cases of cervical cancer. In fact, around 74,000 women in India die from this type of cancer every year, and globally the figure is even higher. But HPV can do much more than that. The virus is also a leading cause of cancer of the mouth, throat and genitals in both women and men. Yet only a handful of countries, Australia for example, have really got to grips with vaccinating boys.

Boys should be part of the fight too

In Bangalore, one of India's leading oncologists has just made a strong case for offering HPV vaccination to boys as well. His argument is crystal clear: Boys carry and transmit the virus, and they themselves risk developing throat and mouth cancer. In fact, recent research shows that HPV-related mouth cancer is on the rise in men in the Western world. So why have we only focused on girls for years? Vaccine Nation, as Americans sometimes call themselves, has started to change its attitude, and several experts suggest we should do the same here. It's all about herd immunity – the more people vaccinated, the harder it is for the virus to spread.

What does the World Health Organization say?

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has repeatedly stressed that we have a historic opportunity to eradicate a form of cancer for the first time. The goal is for 90% of all girls globally to be fully vaccinated against HPV by the time they turn 15. And more and more countries are now including boys in their national programmes. It requires political will and a solid effort to educate the public that the vaccine is safe and genuinely effective.

How are we doing in the UK?

Here at home, we've had our ups and downs with the HPV vaccine. After a few years of scare stories and declining uptake, we're thankfully back on track. HPV vaccination has been part of the childhood immunisation programme for girls since 2008, and for boys since 2019. But we're not there yet. Uptake is still lower than in neighbouring countries like Sweden and Norway, and that costs lives. Every time a 12-year-old misses their vaccination, it increases the risk that in 20-30 years' time, we'll see more cases of cervical cancer and other HPV-related diseases.

• Cervical cancer: Nearly 100% of cases are caused by HPV.
• Mouth and throat cancer: HPV is responsible for a growing proportion, especially in men.
• Genital cancers: Vulval, vaginal, penile and anal cancers can all be triggered by HPV.
• Genital warts: A benign but troublesome consequence of HPV infection.

It's worth remembering that the vaccine works best if you get it before becoming sexually active. That's why it's offered to children in Year 7 and 8 at school (ages 12-13). But even if you're older, you can still benefit from vaccination – speak to your GP.

The future is bright, if we act now

Imagine a world without cervical cancer. It's not a fantasy – it's a realistic goal if we achieve high vaccination rates and ensure that women still attend screening. Because even though the vaccine covers the most dangerous HPV types, there's always a small residual risk. But with a concerted effort, we can save tens of thousands of lives every single year. Here in the UK too. It just requires all of us – parents, doctors, politicians – to take responsibility and say yes to vaccines when they're offered. Because, as they say, prevention is better than having to go through cancer treatment.

So, next time you hear about the HPV vaccine, remember it's not just about girls and cervical cancer. It's about protecting an entire generation – both girls and boys – from a range of serious cancers. We have the means, we have the knowledge, and we have the opportunity. Let's seize it.