Australia has lead the world in HPV vaccination. Since the introduction of the HPV vaccine in 2007 for girls there has been a 90% reduction in genital warts in young women and a 80% reduction in young heterosexual men, the later primarily through herd immunity. Men who have sex with men (MSM) have seen no substantial fall. The introduction of a school based HPV vaccine for boys as well as girls in 2013 has raised the prospect of MSM, who are at very high risk of HPV related malignancy also benefiting. However the critical question is the level of vaccination coverage that will be required to achieve the same dramatic falls in genital warts in MSM, that has been seen in heterosexuals.
The presentation will discuss the epidemiological data and postulate what level of HPV vaccine coverage will be required to provide MSM with the same health benefits currently being enjoyed by heterosexuals in Australia. It will also suggest how best to implement such a program.