Roger-Luc Chayer (Image : AI / Gay Globe)
It is now confirmed: the HPV vaccine offers exceptional protection against several cancers in both men and women.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) worldwide. It is estimated that most sexually active people will be exposed to the virus at some point in their lives. In most cases, the infection clears spontaneously without symptoms. However, certain high-risk HPV strains can persist and lead to serious health complications.
HPV is recognized as the leading cause of cervical cancer, but it is also linked to several other cancers, including anal cancer, penile cancer, vulvar cancer, vaginal cancer, and oropharyngeal cancer, which affects the throat and tonsils. Some HPV strains can also cause genital warts (condyloma acuminata).
Although Europe and North America use different HPV vaccines, the observed outcomes are very similar.
In Europe, one of the most widely used HPV vaccines has long been Cervarix, designed to target HPV types 16 and 18. These two strains are responsible for approximately 70% of cervical cancer cases and a significant proportion of other HPV-related cancers. Although it covers fewer strains than newer vaccines, Cervarix has demonstrated strong effectiveness in preventing high-risk HPV infections and precancerous lesions. Several European studies have confirmed that vaccination dramatically reduces the incidence of cancers associated with the most dangerous HPV types.
The main difference between Cervarix and Gardasil 9 lies in the number of HPV types they protect against.
Cervarix targets only HPV types 16 and 18, responsible for around 70% of cervical cancers and a large share of HPV-related cancers.
Gardasil 9, on the other hand, protects against nine HPV types: 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58, which are linked to multiple cancers, as well as types 6 and 11, which cause the majority of genital warts.
In practice, both vaccines provide excellent protection against cancers caused by HPV types 16 and 18. However, Gardasil 9 offers broader coverage, preventing a greater number of HPV-related cancers, precancerous lesions, and genital warts. It is therefore the most widely used HPV vaccine in Canada, the United States, and an increasing number of European countries.
HPV vaccination is equally important for young men and young women, as the virus does not discriminate by sex. In men, HPV can cause several cancers, including penile cancer, anal cancer, and oropharyngeal cancer, which affects the throat, tonsils, and base of the tongue. Certain HPV strains are also responsible for most cases of genital warts.
Vaccination before the onset of sexual activity provides the highest level of protection. By immunizing both boys and girls, public health authorities also reduce overall HPV transmission, helping protect unvaccinated individuals or those with weaker immune responses.
Experts now consider male HPV vaccination essential for preventing HPV-related cancers and strengthening the effectiveness of national prevention programs.
The level of protection offered by the HPV vaccine depends on the age at vaccination and whether prior exposure to the virus has occurred.
In individuals vaccinated before becoming sexually active, the effectiveness against precancerous lesions caused by targeted HPV types is generally estimated at 95% to 100%. For cervical precancerous lesions associated with HPV types 16 and 18, studies have shown protection rates close to 100%.
Gardasil 9 provides protection against nine HPV types responsible for the majority of HPV-related cancers. According to Health Canada, its effectiveness is close to 100% against cervical disease linked to HPV 16 and 18, between 95% and 99% against external genital lesions including warts, and above 96% against high-grade lesions caused by other vaccine-included HPV types.
In Canada, the HPV vaccine is generally offered free of charge to young people through public school vaccination programs. Each province and territory has its own program, but vaccination is typically provided at no cost during pre-adolescence or adolescence, before the start of sexual activity.
In Quebec, the HPV vaccine is included in the Quebec Immunization Program and is offered free of charge to students in specific school levels and eligible groups. Individuals not covered by the free program may need to pay, with the full vaccine series costing several hundred dollars.
Even in adulthood, some individuals may still qualify for free vaccination depending on public health eligibility criteria.
In the United States, the HPV vaccine is generally free for children and adolescents through private insurance (which is required to cover recommended vaccines at no cost) and through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program, which provides free vaccination for eligible low-income or uninsured families. However, some adults may still face costs depending on insurance coverage.
In Europe, access varies by country, but in most cases, the HPV vaccine is fully covered for adolescents through national immunization programs. Countries such as France, the United Kingdom, and the Nordic nations provide widespread free vaccination to increase coverage and prevent HPV-related cancers. For adults outside these programs, vaccination may still involve out-of-pocket costs.
ADVERTISING
READ ALSO
When friendship turns into suspicion: the lingering prejudice between gay and straight men
https://gayglobe.net/en/when-friendship-turns-into-suspicion-the-lingering-prejudice-between-gay-and-straight-men/
What if immunotherapy could finally defeat HIV? The breakthrough approach that is shaking up science
https://gayglobe.net/en/what-if-immunotherapy-could-finally-defeat-hiv-the-breakthrough-approach-that-is-shaking-up-science/
COVID-19 and mRNA: The Medical Revolution Born from a Pandemic
https://gayglobe.net/en/covid-19-and-mrna-the-medical-revolution-born-from-a-pandemic/
Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B Vaccination in Gay Men: From the 1990s Public Health Campaigns to Bepirovirsen Innovation
https://gayglobe.net/en/hepatitis-a-and-hepatitis-b-vaccination-in-gay-men-from-the-1990s-public-health-campaigns-to-bepirovirsen-innovation/
International Aid and LGBTQ+ Rights: The Paradox of Countries Receiving Funding Despite Anti-Homosexuality Laws
https://gayglobe.net/en/international-aid-and-lgbtq-rights-the-paradox-of-countries-receiving-funding-despite-anti-homosexuality-laws/
When Shelters Become a Shock: A Deep Dive into the Reality of Homelessness in Montreal
https://gayglobe.net/en/when-shelters-become-a-shock-a-deep-dive-into-the-reality-of-homelessness-in-montreal/
Fibromyalgia and magnesium deficiency: symptoms, diagnosis and supplementation
https://gayglobe.net/en/fibromyalgia-and-magnesium-deficiency-symptoms-diagnosis-and-supplementation/
11,900 Articles Published: Gay Globe Reaches a New Historic Milestone
https://gayglobe.net/en/11-900-articles-published-gay-globe-reaches-a-new-historic-milestone/
Gay411 Issues: Inactive Profiles, Inconsistent Geolocation and an Outdated Interface
https://gayglobe.net/en/gay411-issues-inactive-profiles-inconsistent-geolocation-and-an-outdated-interface/
Bad Bunny: Global Icon and Ally of LGBT Communities
https://gayglobe.net/en/bad-bunny-global-icon-and-ally-of-lgbt-communities/