HPV vaccination crucial in fight against cervical and other cancers – Editorial

There is some resistance to the HPV vaccination for young people because of its association with sexual activity.

It is concerning that New Zealand is behind the eight ball in uptake of the HPV vaccine.

The vaccine, which protects against cervical, vaginal, vulvar, penile, anal and back-of-throat cancers and genital warts, is available in schools to girls and boys.

The Weekend Herald reported national HPV vaccination coverage among 15-year-olds is about 60%, short of Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora’s target of 75% and the World Health Organisation (WHO) goal of 90%.

Unfortunately, some resist having their children vaccinated because the HPV virus is contracted through sexual contact. Specialist obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Jess Dunning says some parents feel it might be “giving their young daughters permission to have sex”.

Add increasing vaccine hesitancy post-Covid and the distribution, often on social media, of incorrect information and the problem compounds.

HPV infection is common. An estimated 70-80% of sexually active people become infected at some stage in their lives, even if they have had only a single sexual partner.

Dunning says the vaccine needs to be given at a young age because it enables a greater immune response before a person is exposed to HPV.

She wants more education for families that the vaccine can prevent cancer so they can make decisions based on correct information.

Cancer Society head of advocacy and public affairs Rachael Neumann agrees the focus needs to shift away from sexual activity or protecting against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) to cancer prevention, saying this needs funding and commitment from politicians and the health sector.

She says Australia’s investment in cancer services is well ahead of New Zealand’s. It is on track to become the first country to eliminate cervical cancer by 2035. Elimination is defined by the WHO as fewer than four cases per 100,000 women.

In New Zealand, there are about 175 cervical cancer diagnoses a year and 55 deaths from it. We have an elimination target of 2040.

Those familiar with “The Unfortunate Experiment” that began in 1966 at National Women’s Hospital, leaving women with abnormal cervical smear results untreated, will be horrified a recent major review found nearly a million cervical screening notifications were missed or unsent by Health NZ’s national register.

More positively, the Government announced in September it would make screening free from March as part of its Cervical Cancer Elimination Plan 2026-2040.

Health NZ prevention screening national director Alana Ewe-Snow says a new promotional approach to HPV vaccination will focus on “cancer prevention for young people, rather than primarily as a vaccine for girls”.

Let’s hope Health NZ’s new programme to improve awareness of HPV eligibility, and encourage those who missed vaccination at school to get it now, hits the mark. It is crucial in our fight against cervical and other cancers.