Few men vaccinated against HPV – too expensive

Despite the fact that human papillomavirus can lead to both cancer and sexually transmitted diseases, only a tenth of all younger men are vaccinated against the virus.

This is shown by a survey from RFSL Ungdom – who want to see a boost from the government.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is known to cause cell changes and cervical cancer in women. Since 2010, all girls of middle school age are offered free vaccines.

But the virus also risks making men sick and can cause genital warts as well as several types of cancer. Despite the risks, however, only one in ten men between the ages of 18 and 27 state that they have been vaccinated, according to a survey commissioned by RFSL Ungdom.

Many willing to take vaccine

Around 80 percent of the unvaccinated men consider themselves willing to take the vaccine – if it were free. Elias Fjellander, union chairman at RFSL Ungdom, recognizes the picture that the survey gives.

– If as a girl you missed the vaccine at school for some reason, it is often possible to get it for free as an adult. That’s not how it is as a guy, he says.

– Taking the vaccine costs thousands of kroner. What youth can afford that?

Vaccination against HPV is mainly recommended for people under the age of 27. According to RFSL Ungdom, several regions have been positive about expanded free vaccination, on the condition that the state co-finances it.

According to the Public Health Authority, offering free vaccines to young adult men could cost a total of just over SEK 1.1 billion.

– That’s a lot of money, you can’t hide it under the chair. But HPV-related diseases also have health-economic consequences, for example in the form of cancer care and loss of production, says Fjellander.

– There is no one who disagrees that this is important, but the difficulties lie in the fact that the government has not prioritized this in the state budget.

“Total betrayal”

As of 2020, the HPV vaccine also began to be offered to boys in middle school age, which is expected to increase the vaccination rate among men in the long term. Fjellander emphasizes the importance of speeding up the process.

– Those who are offered vaccines at school get vaccinated to a large extent. But for those who have not been offered, and are at an age where the vaccines are still effective, it becomes a total betrayal, he says.

FACT Knowledge about HPV

Read more