Why boys should get HPV vax

Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is a common infection that can cause cancers in both women and men, not just cervical cancer. (cdc.gov) (aha.iapindia.org) That is why the case for vaccinating boys has grown sharper in 2026, even as India’s national rollout began as a free campaign for 14-year-old girls. (pib.gov.in) (gavi.org) India launched that programme on February 28, 2026, with vaccines offered at government facilities to about 1.15 crore, or 11.5 million, girls aged 14 across all states and union territories. (pib.gov.in) (gavi.org) The immediate target is cervical cancer, which India records at more than 120,000 new cases and nearly 80,000 deaths a year, according to figures cited by Gavi from the World Health Organization’s GLOBOCAN 2022 data. (gavi.org) But HPV also drives cancers in males, including head and neck, anal, esophageal, and penile cancers. A JAMA Oncology study published online April 9, 2026 tracked males ages 9 to 26 and found lower cancer risk in those who got the 9-valent vaccine. (jamanetwork.com) That study identified 615,155 vaccinated males and 2,290,623 unvaccinated males in U.S. data; after matching, researchers compared 510,260 in each group. Vaccinated males had a hazard ratio of 0.54 for HPV-related cancers, a roughly 46% lower risk than unvaccinated peers. (jamanetwork.com) (cidrap.umn.edu) The benefit held in both age bands the researchers examined: ages 9 to 14 had a hazard ratio of 0.58, and ages 15 to 26 had a hazard ratio of 0.50. The authors said the findings support making HPV vaccination accessible “irrespective of sex.” (jamanetwork.com) (cidrap.umn.edu) Indian pediatric guidance is already moving in that direction. A 2025 Indian Academy of Pediatrics consensus paper said HPV vaccination recommendations start at age 9 and described gender-neutral vaccination as part of the strategy to close practice gaps. (aha.iapindia.org) That paper states plainly that vaccinating only girls and women “will not provide protection for men,” and it notes projections that HPV-related cancers could account for 3.3% of all cancer cases in Indian men by 2025. (aha.iapindia.org) The World Health Organization and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also frame HPV vaccination as protection given before exposure to the virus, with CDC recommending routine vaccination for boys as well as girls. (who.int) (cdc.gov) India’s public programme is still centered on preventing cervical cancer in girls. The new male-outcomes data and Indian pediatric guidance now give policymakers a more concrete evidence base if they decide to widen that shield to boys. (pib.gov.in) (jamanetwork.com) (aha.iapindia.org)