TY - JOUR
T1 - HPV infections among young MSM visiting sexual health centers in the Netherlands
T2 - Opportunities for targeted HPV vaccination
AU - Woestenberg, Petra J.
AU - van Benthem, Birgit H.B.
AU - Bogaards, Johannes A.
AU - King, Audrey J.
AU - van der Klis, Fiona R.M.
AU - Pasmans, Hella
AU - Leussink, Suzan
AU - van der Sande, Marianne A.B.
AU - Hoebe, Christian J.P.A.
PY - 2020/4/9
Y1 - 2020/4/9
N2 - Introduction: In 2009, girls-only HPV16/18 vaccination was introduced in the Netherlands which has achieved 46–61% uptake. Heterosexual men have benefitted from herd protection, but it is unknown whether men who have sex with men (MSM) also benefit from herd effects of the girls-only HPV16/18 vaccination program. Because MSM bear a high HPV-related disease burden, countries might consider targeted vaccination for MSM. To study possible herd effects and prior HPV exposure at a potential moment of vaccination, we assessed trends in the HPV prevalence and proportions (sero)negative for the various vaccine types among young MSM visiting sexual health centers (SHCs). Methods: We used data from MSM included in PASSYON study years 2009–2017. In this biennial cross-sectional study among visitors of SHCs aged 16–24 years, MSM provided a penile and anal swab for HPV DNA testing (including vaccine types HPV6/11/16/18/31/33/45/52/58) and blood for HPV antibody testing (HPV16/18/31/33/45/52/58). Results: In total 575 MSM were included, with a median of 22 years of age and 15 lifetime sex partners and 3.5% HIV positive. Trends in penile or anal HPV prevalence during 2009–2017 were statistically non-significant for all vaccine types. Of the 455 MSM with a penile and anal swab, 360 (79%), 283 (62%) and 242 (53%) were HPV DNA negative at both anatomical sites for HPV16/18, HPV6/11/16/18 and HPV6/11/16/18/31/33/45/52/58 respectively. Among MSM who were HPV16/18 and HPV16/18/31/33/45/52/58 DNA negative and were tested for serology (n = 335 and 279 respectively), 82% and 71% were also seronegative for the respective types. Discussion: There were no significant declines in the HPV prevalence among MSM up to eight years after introduction of girls-only HPV16/18 vaccination, indicating that MSM are unlikely to benefit largely from herd effects from girls-only vaccination. Most MSM were vaccine-type DNA negative and seronegative, suggesting that vaccination of young MSM visiting SHCs could still be beneficial.
AB - Introduction: In 2009, girls-only HPV16/18 vaccination was introduced in the Netherlands which has achieved 46–61% uptake. Heterosexual men have benefitted from herd protection, but it is unknown whether men who have sex with men (MSM) also benefit from herd effects of the girls-only HPV16/18 vaccination program. Because MSM bear a high HPV-related disease burden, countries might consider targeted vaccination for MSM. To study possible herd effects and prior HPV exposure at a potential moment of vaccination, we assessed trends in the HPV prevalence and proportions (sero)negative for the various vaccine types among young MSM visiting sexual health centers (SHCs). Methods: We used data from MSM included in PASSYON study years 2009–2017. In this biennial cross-sectional study among visitors of SHCs aged 16–24 years, MSM provided a penile and anal swab for HPV DNA testing (including vaccine types HPV6/11/16/18/31/33/45/52/58) and blood for HPV antibody testing (HPV16/18/31/33/45/52/58). Results: In total 575 MSM were included, with a median of 22 years of age and 15 lifetime sex partners and 3.5% HIV positive. Trends in penile or anal HPV prevalence during 2009–2017 were statistically non-significant for all vaccine types. Of the 455 MSM with a penile and anal swab, 360 (79%), 283 (62%) and 242 (53%) were HPV DNA negative at both anatomical sites for HPV16/18, HPV6/11/16/18 and HPV6/11/16/18/31/33/45/52/58 respectively. Among MSM who were HPV16/18 and HPV16/18/31/33/45/52/58 DNA negative and were tested for serology (n = 335 and 279 respectively), 82% and 71% were also seronegative for the respective types. Discussion: There were no significant declines in the HPV prevalence among MSM up to eight years after introduction of girls-only HPV16/18 vaccination, indicating that MSM are unlikely to benefit largely from herd effects from girls-only vaccination. Most MSM were vaccine-type DNA negative and seronegative, suggesting that vaccination of young MSM visiting SHCs could still be beneficial.
KW - Herd protection
KW - Human papillomavirus (HPV)
KW - Men who have sex with men (MSM)
KW - Targeted vaccination
KW - Vaccination
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85082186753&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.03.002
DO - 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.03.002
M3 - Article
C2 - 32201140
AN - SCOPUS:85082186753
VL - 38
SP - 3321
EP - 3329
JO - Vaccine
JF - Vaccine
SN - 0264-410X
IS - 17
ER -