Posted By: Brian Hill to our friends "down under" - 04-16-2012 12:46 AM
http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/news/health/hpv-vaccine-for-boys-questioned/2521849.aspx

Please note that the vaccination of young boys is on the table for discussion in Australia, a country that is already the most enlightened in the world - as they have government funded HPV vaccination for all young girls. But there has been an MD ( not a head and neck doctor) write to suggest that the benefits do not outweigh the costs. This writer clearly has not seen any patients with an advanced oral cancer. Anyone who feels like writing a counter point to the appropriate authorities is encouraged to do so. It would be nice to see the country with the best policy for women be the one with equality for men. And if the oral cancer argument isn't enough, gender based vaccination in the cervical cancer model is only addressing half the problem. Men are vectors of the virus to women. In the next generation, Australia could be the first country in the world to be HPV16 -18 free.
Posted By: ChristineB Re: to our friends "down under" - 04-16-2012 12:16 PM
That would be quite a milestone to see in our lifetime!
Posted By: Pandora99 Re: to our friends "down under" - 04-17-2012 01:55 AM
Just FYI, Canada is on the same track. (Perhaps the Aussie's are copying us???)

This made the news a day ago:

****

Boys should have access to free HPV immunization, currently only available for girls, in order to protect more people against cancer, a growing chorus of Canadian doctors say...
This week, the Canadian Cancer Advocacy Coalition called on provinces to pay for the vaccine for boys, too. In January, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommended HPV vaccination for males aged nine to 25.
"Now is the time for governments to apply universal vaccine coverage for our boys and our girls to protect them from disease in the future," the coalition's report concluded.

The more common HPV vaccine, Gardasil, was initially only approved in Canada for use in girls and young women, but Health Canada expanded approval to males in 2010. Another vaccine, Cervarix, is only approved for use in females.

Two strains of HPV are thought be responsible for:

80% to 90% of anal cancers.
40% to 50% of penile cancers.
35% of oropharyngeal cancers.
25% of oral cavity cancers.

"The thought is if we vaccinate men, that will contribute to protecting women as well," said London, Ont.-based physician Marina Salvadori, the Canadian Pediatric Society's representative to the National Advisory Committee on Immunization. "So they don't spread the viruses to each other, both groups are protected from cancer and it's a win-win all round."
***

Where I live in Canada (Manitoba), Grade 6 girls are vaccinated for HPV free of charge since the 2008-2009 school year as follows:

"Manitoba Health introduced a voluntary, publicly-funded vaccine program for Grade Six girls starting in the school year 2008-2009. The program is delivered by public health nurses. Before any individual receives the immunization, information about HPV infections, the vaccine, and a consent form will be provided to parents and/or legal guardians."

Just FYI.

Donna
Posted By: Brian Hill Re: to our friends "down under" - 04-17-2012 04:01 AM
Clearly those countries still in the commonwealth have an attitude less influenced by the puritanical attitudes that drive far too much of the public discourse in the US. Their position is far more enlightened.

As evidenced by the back peddling of Rick Perry in the Republican primary; pressure against science, that the religious conservative movement is driving, will push our country into a period of adversity towards science, and even what we are currently seeing as science denial in spite of evidence.

The rise of the anti vaccine movement (against all vaccines not just the one for HPV) fueled by urban myth on the Internet, is particularly troubling. The rise of the Internet and the ability for anyone -with any level of education or understanding- (from idiots, to intellectuals, to those who have endeavored in a particular field their whole lives) the to have the same weight of importance and equal voice in their comments is absurd. In a world where the ability to say anything - lie or truth, opinion or fact, hiding behind an anonymous screen name, and lacking any credentials, we have created a situation where the loudest voices get the most exposure, not those with the most education to express informed opinions. And the masses believe the nonsense that they read and repeat it ad nauseum. And presto! an urban myth that hundreds of girls have died from the HPV vaccine is born, and believed by millions. I want to PUKE!

Well I guess I needed to get that out. I feel better now�.

Most of the promising stem cell research is now being conducted outside the US. This will inevitably yield therapies and drugs that US corporations will not financially benefit from, and which will reach US patients far after patients in other countries. As a science oriented individual, I can't feel less than sad about the state of all this.
Posted By: klo Re: to our friends "down under" - 04-17-2012 05:08 AM
Thanks Brian

I am hopeful we have the arguments to counter this.

As you would be aware, the oral cancer angle is not so sexy and lacks political strength (too few people and no cohesive network). Best chance of success is in collaboration with other networks that would also benefit from a non-sexist access to vaccines.

The newspaper report is putting their spin on it without even understanding what is being said. The doctor they are talking about as you suggested is not a clinician, but has expertise in predicting epidemics and modelling the costs. He is speaking purely from a cost perspective and how many people are needed to treat in order to save one person. And whilst he is correct in that the gains from vaccinating boys will be nowhere near as dramatic as the vaccination of girls, his modelling does not consider the young human being behind the statistics.

The PR around this needs to continue to be about a YOUNG mother, brother, partner, father etc who is dying needlessly when we have the means to prevent it.

There is an obvious, politically heavy group bringing their power to bear.

Whilst we can continue to ensure the right people behind the scenes have the right information, we also need to keep reminding them that HPV caused oral cancer adds weight to their arguments and modelling in addition to the cost benefit argument.

We, as consumers, have the opportunity to write letters to the paper, and post on facebook etc to ensure this issue doesn't get buried or twisted.

For others reading this in Australia, the vaccine is available to boys but for them it is not yet part of the school immunisation programme as it has been for girls since the beginning of 2007.

The current negotiations are around providing the vaccine to boys on the school vaccine programme.

It is just a question of the money ...
Posted By: klo Re: to our friends "down under" - 04-17-2012 05:39 AM
sorry Brian, it took me so long to write my post it is now following your second post. My response above is to your original post.

Re your second post: Hear hear!!
Posted By: Brian Hill Re: to our friends "down under" - 04-17-2012 02:07 PM
Do not forget to add anal cancers, penile cancers, vulvar cancers, oral cancer, and cervical cancers to the addition of cancer treatment costs the vaccine likely will impact. All caused by HPV16. That will increase the numbers some to the benefit of the argument. There are actually a few more that are suspect, but the data is inconclusive right now.
Posted By: lam007 Re: to our friends "down under" - 04-18-2012 12:41 PM
And we must not just focus on the "it might kill you" aspect. Living isn't always so easy after treatment.
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