The British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN) and the Society of British Dental Nurses (SBDN) have joined other dental professional associations in written support of the call for a gender-neutral approach to HPV vaccination.

The BADN added its signature to a letter sent to the Department for Health and Social Care, which urges the extension of the vaccination programme against the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) to boys as well as girls.

The letter to Steve Brine MP, Minister for Pubic Health and Primary Care, makes clear that dental leaders strongly support universal vaccination against HPV, prior to a meeting of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) on 6 June 2018.

Emma Riley, chair of the Society of British Dental Nurses (SBDN) and oncology specialist interest lead, said: 'The SBDN continues to support the campaign to support HPV Vaccinations for Boys. We believe that the decision not to provide HPV vaccinations for boys is flawed on many levels and such decisions have the potential to contravene both human rights and the right to a healthy life, as well as raising equality and diversity issues.

'The SBDN's associate fellows, Rachel and Tim Parsons, 'work tirelessly to support actions that have the ability and capacity to both reduce risks and incidence of oral and pharyngeal cancers.'

Rachel, who herself battled mouth cancer, said: 'I feel having my daughter vaccinated protects her, but I am not allowed to protect my boys in the same way – this is wrong. We know first-hand how devastating these cancers can be. We have had our boys vaccinated but understand that this is not an option for everyone and it should be.'

HPV has been linked to 1 in 20 cases of cancer in the UK, causing not only cervical cancers, but also cancers of the mouth and throat, penis and anus. HPV-caused throat cancers, which are rising sharply in incidence, are among the hardest to diagnose and treat and are twice as likely to affect men as women. Up to 80% of sexually active people will be infected by HPV at some point in their lives.

In the UK, all schoolgirls are offered the vaccine from the age of 12 or 13, although there is an opportunity to be given the vaccine up to the age of 18. The take-up rate is more than 85%.

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