Focus on Healthy China HPV (First Health Report Beijing Reporter Kang Mei)
Recently, the Guangxi CDC announced that the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Disease Prevention and Control Center plans to conduct a Phase III clinical trial of a 9-valent HPV vaccine for males in September.
The trial involves a domestically produced nine-valent vaccine, recruiting 500 male volunteers aged 18-45 for a 6-year follow-up.
On August 25, several clinical experts stated in interviews that from the perspective of herd immunity and disease prevention, it is essential for males to receive the HPV vaccine. Once domestic indication verification is completed, the HPV vaccine for males will undoubtedly be made available.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common pathogens in sexually transmitted diseases and is recognized worldwide as one of the four major oncogenic pathogens. Historically, we have associated the HPV vaccine primarily with female health, but in reality, males are the main carriers of the HPV virus and can also develop other diseases due to HPV infection.
It is known that HPV infection in males can cause genital warts such as condyloma acuminatum, anal cancer, penile cancer, and various tumors, as well as reduce sperm motility affecting fertility. Previously, a study reported on the website of the French newspaper “Le Monde” indicated that HPV affects nearly one-third of males globally. Approximately one-third of males aged 15 or older may have been infected by one of these viruses. About one-fifth of males are carriers of high-risk (i.e., oncogenic) HPV.
Currently, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Macau, and other regions have already opened up male vaccination with the nine-valent HPV vaccine.
It is reported that multiple HPV vaccines are already undergoing clinical trials for male populations in China.
(Editor: Mint)
