The Australian minister for health has announced that, starting next school year, the government will provide free human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations (Gardasil) for 12- and 13-year-old boys through school-based programs under the National Immunization Program.
It is the first vaccination effort of its kind, according to the Australian government. Providing the HPV vaccine to boys would protect them from developing a range of cancers -- including oral cancer -- and increase the effectiveness of the vaccination program for girls, Minister for Health Tanya Plibersek stated in a press release.
Plibersek estimated that a quarter of new infections will be avoided by extending the vaccine to boys.
The HPV vaccination program for boys is expected to cost $21.1 million over four years. This will include an information campaign, a vaccine register, and monitoring of adverse reactions.
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee had recommended last year that the HPV vaccination program be extended to boys following a review of its cost-effectiveness, Plibersek said.
The Australian government would work with all states and territories to implement the boys' vaccination program in high schools, she noted.
