France Extends HPV Vaccination Catch-Up Recommendations to Age 26
The Haute Autorité de Santé advocates for expanded HPV vaccination access for all individuals up to 26 years old.
On May 13, the Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS) in France issued a recommendation to extend the catch-up vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) to individuals of all genders up to 26 years old.
The recommendation has been met with an assurance from the Minister of Health, Yannick Neuder, who stated he would act promptly on the advisory.
Historically, catch-up vaccinations for HPV were available to women and heterosexual men only up to the age of 19, and up to 26 for men who have sex with men, creating a disparity in access based on gender and sexual orientation.
The HAS emphasized that while the vaccination of adolescents between the ages of 11 and 14 remains a priority, there is now a recognized need to ensure equitable access to the HPV vaccine, particularly for those who may have missed their adolescent vaccinations.
The organization advocates for the use of the Gardasil 9 vaccine for both young men and women who did not receive the vaccine during the recommended age range.
Minister Neuder described this extension as a 'much-anticipated advancement,' highlighting France's ambition to achieve an 80% vaccination coverage rate against HPV by 2030. The HAS reports that HPV infections account for approximately 6,400 new cancer cases annually in France, predominantly cervical cancer, alongside an incidence of 35,000 precancerous lesions.
The HAS views the catch-up vaccination strategy as an important preventative measure, aimed at curbing the spread of HPV within the general population, especially considering the current low vaccination rates among adolescents aged 11 to 14.
Data presented to the HAS indicates that three-quarters of young adults up to 26 years old have not yet encountered HPV infections but are at high risk for acquiring and transmitting the virus.
The peak incidence of HPV-related issues for women in France is found between the ages of 20 and 24. The Gardasil 9 vaccine, produced by the American company MSD, can be administered concurrently with the diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and poliomyelitis vaccine at age 25, as well as during the catch-up vaccination for invasive meningococcal infections, which is now recommended for ages 15 to 24.
The HAS cautions that the vaccine is most effective when administered as early as possible, advising against delaying vaccination until adulthood.
Recommendations to provide HPV vaccinations up to age 26 for all individuals were also made by the Academy of Medicine and various medical associations and unions in 2024.
The recommendation has been met with an assurance from the Minister of Health, Yannick Neuder, who stated he would act promptly on the advisory.
Historically, catch-up vaccinations for HPV were available to women and heterosexual men only up to the age of 19, and up to 26 for men who have sex with men, creating a disparity in access based on gender and sexual orientation.
The HAS emphasized that while the vaccination of adolescents between the ages of 11 and 14 remains a priority, there is now a recognized need to ensure equitable access to the HPV vaccine, particularly for those who may have missed their adolescent vaccinations.
The organization advocates for the use of the Gardasil 9 vaccine for both young men and women who did not receive the vaccine during the recommended age range.
Minister Neuder described this extension as a 'much-anticipated advancement,' highlighting France's ambition to achieve an 80% vaccination coverage rate against HPV by 2030. The HAS reports that HPV infections account for approximately 6,400 new cancer cases annually in France, predominantly cervical cancer, alongside an incidence of 35,000 precancerous lesions.
The HAS views the catch-up vaccination strategy as an important preventative measure, aimed at curbing the spread of HPV within the general population, especially considering the current low vaccination rates among adolescents aged 11 to 14.
Data presented to the HAS indicates that three-quarters of young adults up to 26 years old have not yet encountered HPV infections but are at high risk for acquiring and transmitting the virus.
The peak incidence of HPV-related issues for women in France is found between the ages of 20 and 24. The Gardasil 9 vaccine, produced by the American company MSD, can be administered concurrently with the diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and poliomyelitis vaccine at age 25, as well as during the catch-up vaccination for invasive meningococcal infections, which is now recommended for ages 15 to 24.
The HAS cautions that the vaccine is most effective when administered as early as possible, advising against delaying vaccination until adulthood.
Recommendations to provide HPV vaccinations up to age 26 for all individuals were also made by the Academy of Medicine and various medical associations and unions in 2024.
