Paris (AFP)

The papillomavirus vaccine (HPV), already recommended for adolescent girls, will also be recommended this summer for boys aged 11 to 14, to combat these sexually transmitted viruses responsible in particular for cervical cancer.

Such an enlargement would "slow the transmission" of human papillomaviruses (HPV) and thus "better protect" the entire population from the cancers they cause, mainly in women but also in men in a quarter of cases , explains the High Health Authority (HAS).

Welcoming this opinion published Monday, the Minister of Health Agnès Buzyn wished "that this recommendation be included in the 2020 vaccination calendar for implementation by the summer".

However, this expansion of vaccination will only be effective if the authorities pursue "a more committed vaccination policy", warns the HAS. She suggests that the vaccine be systematically offered during consultations and that "better information on (its) safety" be disseminated to "restore the confidence" of the public and health professionals.

Vaccination against HPV has so far been recommended in young girls aged 11 to 14 (with catch-up up to 19), immunocompromised people and men who have sex with men up to 26 years of age.

But "ten years after the first recommendations" the vaccination coverage of these populations remains "very insufficient", notes the HAS: 24% of women and around 15% of men who have sex with men, against a target of 60%.

Seized by the ministry, the health authority had published at the end of October a "draft opinion" favorable to an extension to the young boys, subjected to a public consultation near the professionals and associations concerned.

A representative body of gynecologists, the FNCGM, notably declared in favor of such a project.

- Shortage -

In its final opinion, the HAS confirms its conclusion, believing that "the extension of HPV vaccination to boys would (...) slow down transmission in the general population, and thus better protect boys and men regardless of their sexual orientation, but also to better protect unvaccinated girls and women. "

It also puts forward ethical arguments of "equal access to vaccination", and stresses that "on a delicate subject to be tackled, the lack of distinction according to sex and sexual orientation is also a means of simplifying the vaccine proposal for health professionals, especially at an age where sexual orientation is not yet known or affirmed ".

Sexually transmitted infections linked to this virus can sometimes cause years later cancers of the cervix and vagina in women, the penis in men, the anus and the throat (in case of oral sex) in both sexes.

About 1,750 new cases of cancer caused by HPV occur each year in France in men, and 4,580 in women.

Cervical cancer alone still kills 1,100 women each year in France and 2,900 new cases are diagnosed.

Some countries like the United States, or the United Kingdom since last year, already recommend that all tweens be vaccinated against HPV before being exposed to it, between 11 and 13 years old.

A group of experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) has just recommended to suspend this vaccination policy for young boys, because of the "current shortage of vaccine" against HPV.

In their report, published on November 22, these experts believe that "all countries should temporarily interrupt the implementation of vaccination strategies (...) without gender distinction" so in people over 15 years old, "until what stocks allow equitable access to the vaccine for all countries, "especially those" where the burden of cervical cancer is high ".

HAS assured that it would take account of these market tensions to redefine the methods of catching up on vaccines.

© 2019 AFP