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The expansion of vaccination against papillomaviruses would “slow down transmission” and thus “better protect” the entire population from the cancers they cause, mainly in women but also in men. Joe Raedle / Getty Images / AFP

Papillomaviruses are responsible for many cancers, such as that of the cervix or the vagina for women. A vaccine exists, so far administered to adolescent girls. From now on this vaccination will be extended to boys. The decision has just been made this Monday, December 16 by the Minister of Health, Agnès Buzyn.

Papillomaviruses or HPV are sexually transmitted viruses that cause cancer of the vagina or cervix in women. They are also very common, since 70% of French people with an active sex life will be in contact with a papillomavirus at least once in their life.

Until now, the HPV vaccine has been recommended in girls aged 11 to 14, with possible catch-up up to 19, and also in men under 26 who have sex with men. .

But starting next summer, the vaccination will be extended to boys of the same age group. The objective of this expansion is to curb the transmission of papillomaviruses and to protect the entire population from the cancers they cause .

Other countries such as England and the United States have already extended vaccination to adolescents following changes in epidemiological data which show that they too are infected with these viruses and that they transmit them to their partners. Very contagious, HPV infection can cause penile or anus cancer in humans.