Opinions and Responses

Request for Subsidies for HPV Vaccination for Men

HPV causes not only cervical cancer but also oropharyngeal cancer in men and genital warts. Routine vaccination for males is implemented in 59 countries worldwide, and expanding vaccination in Japan is an urgent priority.
Many wards in Tokyo provide full subsidies, and it is desirable to introduce subsidies to correct disparities between municipalities. Setagaya Ward will start full subsidies from October 2024, promoting vaccination among younger people. Following these advanced examples, our city should also introduce subsidies.
Vaccination for men prevents oropharyngeal and anal cancers, and also reduces the risk of cervical cancer in women. In Australia, vaccination of both men and women is leading to the near eradication of cervical cancer.
We request full financial support for three doses of vaccination for males from 6th grade elementary to 1st year high school students, just like for females.
Subsidies for HPV vaccines for men are directly linked to cancer prevention and the improvement of public health. We strongly urge the city to take leadership and promptly implement the subsidy system.

Response

We are aware that some cities and wards within Tokyo Metropolis are implementing subsidy programs for voluntary HPV vaccination (quadrivalent) for males. On the other hand, regarding the regular vaccination program, deliberations began in August 2022 at the national Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's Science Council Subcommittee on Vaccination and Vaccines. By March 2024, while the effectiveness and safety of administering the HPV vaccine (quadrivalent) three times as a basis for regular vaccination have been confirmed to a certain extent, cost-effectiveness remains an issue, and discussions are ongoing.
At present, HPV vaccination for males is not covered under the routine vaccinations stipulated by the Vaccination Act and is positioned as a voluntary vaccination. Therefore, the city currently does not plan to provide financial assistance for the vaccination costs, but will continue to monitor the trends of the national government and other municipalities.

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