Review of Evidence and Recommendation for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination of Canadian Males Over the Age of 26 Years

Human papillomavirus (HPV) remains the most common sexually transmitted infection with a lifetime incidence of over 75%. Based on US data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 64% of invasive HPV-associated cancers are attributable to HPV 16 or 18 (65% for females; 63% males) and may be prevented by vaccination with either the quadrivalent or nonavalent HPV vaccine. Public HPV vaccination programs are now the norm for women aged 9-45 years and men aged 9-26 years in Canada. Yet, only recently have guidelines begun to consider vaccination of men older than 26 years of age. There now exist compelling reasons to recommend vaccination against HPV amongst males >26 years of age. Recognizing that the risks posed by HPV infection persist beyond 26 years of age, that the vaccination of men aged 26-45 years with HPV vaccine confers immunogenicity at levels demonstrably efficacious against HPV-related diseases, and that the Food and Drug Administration recently expanded the HPV vaccination to include older men, it is argued that HPV vaccination in men older than 26 years of age should be routinely recommended.