BOYS SHOULD HAVE SAME RIGHT AS GIRLS TO PROTECTION AGAINST HPV SAYS<br>FEDERATION OF MEDICAL WOMEN OF CANADA

Governments encouraged to update school-based HPV vaccination programs to include both sexes

OTTAWA, Nov. 23 /CNW/ - The Federation of Medical Women of Canada feels strongly that men should have the same options as women when it comes to protecting themselves and their partners against HPV, a virus that is easily transmitted through sexual activity from one partner to another. All provinces and territories are encouraged to include males in their school-based HPV programs in order to decrease the spread of HPV infections more rapidly and reduce the burden of disease in our communities.

"If we want to eradicate the four HPV types that cause the most cancers and genital warts, we have to vaccinate both males and females. Vaccinating females alone is not enough," said Dr. Vivien Brown, Board Member of the Federation of Medical Women of Canada and a family doctor. "In the short-term, vaccinating both sexes would greatly reduce the incidence of genital warts, an HPV-related disease that develops rapidly."

In February of this year, Health Canada approved the quadrivalent HPV vaccine for boys and men nine through 26 years of age for the prevention of infection caused by HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18 and genital warts caused by HPV types 6 and 11.

Frequency of HPV-related cancers in men comparable to cervical cancer

Three in four (75 per cent) Canadians will get at least one HPV infection in their lifetime. The annual incidence of HPV-related cancers in men is 7.0 per 100,000 compared to 8.9 per 100,000 for cervical cancers in women. In men, HPV is associated with anal cancer, penile cancer, as well as oropharynx and oral cavity cancers.

"The approval of the quadrivalent vaccine in males provides a tremendous opportunity to prevent HPV-related diseases," said Dr. Brown. "Vaccinating both boys and girls in public school-based programs would protect both sexes from infection, reduce transmission, prevent a high proportion of HPV-related diseases and increase herd immunity, which basically means a large vaccinated population would also protect unvaccinated individuals to a certain degree. Vaccinating males is a more equitable public health policy and recognizes that both genders contribute to the transmission of HPV and both develop HPV-related diseases."

For the complete position statement, "Human Papillomavirus Vaccine, FMWC Recommends Publically Funded Program for Boys", please visit: www.fmwc.ca.

About the FMWC

The Federation of Medical Women of Canada (FMWC) is a national organization committed to the professional, social and personal advancement of women physicians and to the promotion of the well-being of women both in the medical profession and in society at large.  Established in 1924, the FMWC is also an independent nation member of the Medical Women's International Association. For more information, please visit: www.fmwc.ca

For further information:

OR TO REQUEST AN INTERVIEW, PLEASE CONTACT:
Susan Dallin O'Grady, Executive Coordinator
Federation of Medical Women of Canada
Tel: [phone] Toll free: 1-877-771-3777
E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.fmwc.ca