专家建议:孩子小学时就应该接种HPV疫苗
Children should be given the HPV vaccine at primary school to catch them before they start having sex, according to doctors. Girls are currently offered the human papilloma virus jab at secondary school, which protects against the virus responsible for most cases of cervical cancer. But doctors say this is already too late for some and are now demanding it is offered at primary school instead. Delegates at the British Medical Association's annual conference in Brighton also want boys to be routinely vaccinated to ensure 'universal coverage'. However, critics argue it is sending the wrong message and will encourage children to start having sex sooner. Dr Lucy-Jane Davis, who proposed the motion, said offering the vaccination years earlier could increase uptake levels, currently at 85 percent, and protect men from some cancers. Dr Davis, chair of the BMA Bristol division and a public health registrar, said: 'There's really good evidence that the vaccine works better if you catch people before they are 16, but actually what we need to do is capture them before they have any kind of sexual contact. 'If we could do that at primary school then we would have a universal coverage which would a very sensible and pragmatic approach.' Parents should not be concerned that earlier vaccination would encourage their children to have sex at a younger age and realize it will help 'prevent something bad happening further down the line, she added. |