Free HPV vaccine to boys
Historical archive
Published under: Solberg's Government
Publisher: Ministry of Health and Care Services
Press release | No: 29/2017 | Date: 11/05/2017
The Government will offer HPV vaccine to all 7th grade boys as part of the Childhood Immunisation Programme. The offer will be introduced from the school year 2018/2019.
-HPV infection can have serious consequences for both men and women. 7th grade girls have since 2009 been offered free HPV vaccine as part of the Childhood Immunisation Programme. Now it is time we expand the offer to boys, says Norwegian Minister of Health and Care Services Bent Høie.
HPV is an abbreviation for Human papilloma virus. There are over 100 different type of HPV viruses. Some are harmless, while other increase the risk of cancer in both women and men. One out of four who gets cancer caused by HPV is a man, and the share is increasing. HPV is also the most common sexually transmittable infection.
-The increase in HPV-related cancer among men tells us that also boys should get individual protection against the virus. As a result, we will include the HPV-vaccine in the Childhood Immunisation Programme offered to boys.
The reason way the vaccine will not be introduced from the School year 2017/2018 is because the Institute of Public Health needs time to make the necessary changes in the Childhood Immunisation Programme. The Institute will inform children, their parents and the municipalities about the offer.