Knowledge Hub

Vaccinating both boys and girls against HPV can eradicate cancer-causing types of the virus

A Swedish-Finnish study conducted between 2007-2014 found that vaccinating both girls and boys against HPV (a gender-neutral vaccination strategy) could lead to the eradication of the most common cancer-causing types of the virus through stronger herd immunity. The study randomized HPV vaccination interventions across 33 towns (gender neutral HPV, girls-only HPV, and a control non-HPV vaccination), including 80,000 adolescents between ages 12 and 15. Results of general HPV screening at the age of 19 showed that gender-neutral vaccination prevented HPV infections much more effectively than vaccinating girls only.

Full Citation:
Vänskä S, Luostarinen T, Baussano I et al.. 2020. Vaccination with moderate coverage eradicates oncogenic human papillomaviruses if a gender-neutral strategy is applied. The Journal of Infectious Diseases. 222(6).

Title of Article: Vaccination with moderate coverage eradicates oncogenic human papillomaviruses if a gender-neutral strategy is applied

Author(s): Vänskä S, Luostarinen T, Baussano I et al.

Publication Year: 2020

Publication Name: The Journal of Infectious Diseases

Publication Volume: 222(6)

Publication Source URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32161969/

DOI (Digital Object Identifier): 10.1093/infdis/jiaa099

Topics: Health

Disease Vaccines: Human papillomavirus (HPV)

Countries: Finland | Sweden

WHO Regions: Europe