VACCINE AWARENESS RAISING FOUNDATION AFRICA
TARGET GROUPS FOR HPV VACCINATION
While successful vaccination programmes for girls have been initiated in many countries, much less has been done to vaccinate males. Generally, vaccinating females only is inadequate, discriminatory, and fails to acknowledge that men must be included in policy in order to significantly decrease HPV-related cancers. Thus the focus should be advocating for the extension of HPV vaccination programmes in Africa to protect both boys and girls on the continent.
9-14 YEAR-OLDS
The benefit of vaccination is greatest if it is completed before sexual activity begins. The FOPH and the FCV recommend vaccination against HPV for all adolescents aged 9 to 14 years. Since HPV-related diseases are more common in women than in men, routine vaccination is recommended for girls and optional vaccination for boys.
15-26 YEAR-OLDS
Vaccination may also make sense for 15 to 26 year-olds, which is why it is recommended as a catch-up or supplementary vaccination. If you have any questions, you should talk to your doctor.
BOYS
Most countries have concentrated on vaccinating girls against HPV, while boys aren't. Boys and male suffer oral, penile, anal and other cancers including genital warts. Therefore boys need to ass well be vaccinated against HPV.
27-45 YEAR-OLDS
Last fall the Food and Drug Administration approved the Gardasil 9 vaccine for men and women ages 27 to 45.