The United Kingdom Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has recommended that men who have sex with men (MSM) receive the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine, aidsmap reports. The JCVI asked Public Health England and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine to examine the potential effects and the cost-effectiveness of a program to vaccinate MSM for HPV.

The study considered various factors, including the Gardasil HPV vaccine’s efficacy, MSM’s sexual behavior, MSM’s attendance at sexual health clinics, HIV prevalence among the group, the likelihood of HPV causing anal cancer, HPV incidence by age, and costs.  

The researchers found that Gardasil would be effective at preventing both genital warts and anal cancer among MSM between the ages of 16 and 40, and that the benefits would be particularly pronounced among HIV-positive MSM, who have higher rates of HPV-related anal cancer.

The recommendation amounts to an interim statement at this time.

To read the aidsmap story, click here.

To read the Department of Health and Public Health England statement, click here.