20 Years Since HPV Vaccine Introduction: Medical Experts Urge Vaccination and Screening to Build Family Protection Networks

(Central News Agency reporter Chen Chieh-ling, Taipei, April 11) — Marking the 20th anniversary of the HPV vaccine's introduction, medical professionals in Taiwan are raising alarms over the rising incidence of HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer among men. Experts emphasize that early vaccination is crucial and call for building comprehensive family protection networks through combined vaccination and screening efforts to move toward eliminating HPV.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) has evolved from being perceived as a women's health issue to a broader public health concern encompassing head and neck cancers, anal cancer, vaginal cancer, vulvar cancer, and genital warts. Taiwan has been steadily expanding its HPV prevention strategy and will officially include first-year junior high school boys in its public vaccination program starting September 2025, becoming the first country in East Asia to offer fully publicly funded HPV vaccination for both genders.

Dr. Chiu Hung-Chieh, Director of Urology at Asia University Hospital, cited U.S. CDC data showing that if a male partner tests positive for HPV, approximately 75% of female partners will also test positive for cervical HPV. If a man develops genital warts, about 76% of his female partners may also experience genital infections.

Moreover, real-world studies from Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Denmark all show that when both genders are vaccinated, the incidence of genital warts and HPV-related precancerous lesions decreases significantly. Dr. Chiu emphasized that only by continuously increasing vaccination rates among both sexes and promoting shared protection between partners can the burden of HPV-related diseases and cancers be reduced.

Beyond cervical cancer, HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer among Taiwanese men is quietly rising. Dr. Hsu Ya-Ching, an otolaryngologist at National Taiwan University Hospital in Hsinchu, warned that U.S. studies show the annual incidence of HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer in men has reached 8.8 per 100,000—higher than the 6.5 per 100,000 for cervical cancer in women. Approximately 70% of oropharyngeal cancers are linked to HPV, making it one of the fastest-growing HPV-related cancers in Western countries.

Dr. Hsu noted that Taiwan is facing a similar trend. Coupled with a high prevalence of HPV types 52, 58, and 33, as well as traditional risk factors like smoking, alcohol, and betel nut use, Taiwan faces a unique 'double burden.' Currently, HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer accounts for 25% to 30% of all oropharyngeal cancer cases in Taiwan.

Dr. Hsu urged greater awareness among adults and men, advocating for cross-specialty collaboration and nationwide protective strategies to further reduce the burden of HPV-related cancers.

Dr. Lu Chun-Yi, Director of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at National Taiwan University Hospital, explained that while most HPV-related cancers occur in middle age or later, infections often begin decades earlier. Current vaccination rates among adults of both genders are estimated to be below 50%. He recommended adopting a 'family-wide protection' mindset—through adolescent vaccination, adult catch-up vaccination, and mutual protection between genders—to build a more complete family defense network. (Editor: Kuan Chung-wei) 1150611

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