The letter is copied in full below and available as PDF here:
JCVI – Men and Boys Coalition letter on HPV vaccination for boys
Dear Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation,
Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation: Interim Statement on Extending HPV vaccination to Adolescent Boys
This letter is sent on behalf of the Men and Boys Coalition, an umbrella organisation of over 60 charities, academics and professionals committed to tackling inequality and improving the wellbeing of men and boys in the UK.
We are writing in support of the arguments and views of a range of organisations who support extending HPV vaccination to Adolescent Boys in England. These include:
- British Medical Association
- British Dental Association
- British Association for Sexual Health and HIV
- The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH),
- Royal Society for Public Health
- HPV Action
- Terrence Higgins Trust
- Cancer Research
- Men’s Health Forum
- Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust
We also believe this vaccination should be extended to all adolescent boys across the UK.
As stated in your Interim Statement “clearly there is a benefit in vaccinating boys” and also that you “recognise arguments made by stakeholders that this is an equality of access issue”, hence the referral to the Department of Health.
The Coalition is raising its concerns with the Equality and Human Rights Commission regarding the application of the Equality Act 2010 to this Interim Statement and any future policy decision in this area. In effect, members of our society are being denied this vaccination solely due to a Protected Characteristic – that is, their gender.
Thank you for your time and consideration and we look forward to hearing of a favourable decision and reversal of your interim recommendation.
Yours sincerely,
Mark Brooks (Co-Founder) Men and Boys Coalition