HPV Vaccination State Program Expanded to Include Men Aged 13–45
HPV is one of the most common sexually transmitted viruses, which can cause cancerous changes in the body, including cancers of the esophagus, throat, and urinary tract. Specialists emphasize that vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the spread of the virus.
The Ministry of Health of Georgia has updated the State Immunization Program against Human Papillomavirus (HPV). According to the latest changes, the vaccination will now also apply to males in the 13–45 age group.
The state program provides free vaccination in schools, universities, and polyclinics, including information campaigns. The new regulation for males will help reduce the prevalence of HPV among the population.
Vaccination Schedules
Under the new regulation, vaccination for males aged 13–45 will be conducted according to the following schedules:
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Age group 13–15: Two-dose vaccination with a minimum interval of 6 months.
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Age group 15–45: Three-dose vaccination following the schedule: 0 – 2 – 6 months.
In addition to the age-based schedules, the program includes information campaigns in schools and healthcare facilities. Parents and adolescents will be provided with full information regarding the safety, effectiveness, and necessity of the vaccine.
The Minister of Health stated:
“the new changes allow us to make vaccination even broader and more accessible. Including men in the program is crucial because preventing the spread of the virus cannot be achieved by focusing on only one gender.“
Public Access to the Vaccine
The program is available to all men aged 13–45 and remains available for women aged 13–45. Vaccination is free and available at schools and polyclinics. Prior registration is recommended according to local healthcare facilities.
Specialists state that expanding the program to include males will contribute not only to reducing the spread of HPV but also to increasing the overall effect of cancer prevention.
Excerpt from an interview with Pediatrician-Immunologist Rusudan Kanashvili: “It is essential to note the HPV vaccine and its enormous positive effects. It was first launched as a pilot program in 2017 for girls born in 2008-2009. For several years now, the program has been fully operational for the immunization of girls aged 10-12, and later, boys were added. In the last two years, the age group was expanded to include women aged 13-45 and men up to age 26. As of January 1st of this year, the age for men has also increased, now covering men up to 45 years old. This vaccine is truly necessary because it has a double protection effect—the vaccinated person protects both themselves and their partner.”
The State Vaccination Program is constantly evolving, as reflected in the diversity and growth of its calendar. Despite skepticism based on the misinterpretation of isolated cases, we must always remember that vaccines in Georgia alone have saved over a million lives or improved the quality and duration of life.
