For years, the HPV vaccine has been widely associated with preventing cervical cancer in girls. But doctors are now raising an urgent alarm: human papillomavirus (HPV) is increasingly linked to cancers in men, particularly throat cancer – also known as oropharyngeal cancer. As awareness grows, experts stress that HPV vaccination for boys is not optional – it is essential for comprehensive cancer prevention.

“The virus itself is extremely common, and most people, men included, are exposed to it at some point. So if we vaccinate only girls, we’re only solving half the problem. Boys can still carry and transmit the infection without knowing it. So, HPV vaccine is a must for boys,” said Dr. Jeyhan Dhabhar, Consultant Medical Oncology and Immunotherapy Expert, Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre.

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Traditionally, vaccination campaigns focused on girls to prevent cervical cancer. However, this approach leaves a critical gap. Boys can contract, carry, and transmit HPV without symptoms, contributing to its silent spread. According to Dr. Dhabhar, a simple public health principle: if a virus affects both genders, prevention must include both. “What often helps families understand this is a simple analogy—we don’t vaccinate only one part of the population for infections that circulate widely. The goal is to reduce the pool of infection itself. Also, many parents assume boys are somehow “less at risk,” which isn’t really true,” said Dr. Dhabhar.

“The consequences may show up differently, but they can be just as serious. As doctors, we usually meet patients when the disease has already developed. With HPV, we actually have a chance to prevent that entire journey - and that’s something we shouldn’t miss,” he added.

Vaccinating boys offers two major benefits:

It reduces the risk of HPV-related cancers, especially throat cancer in men.

It lowers overall virus transmission, protecting both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.

One of the most concerning trends is the increase in HPV-related throat cancers among men. Unlike cervical cancer, which has screening programs, throat cancers are often detected late due to subtle early symptoms. This makes prevention through vaccination even more critical. Symptoms of oropharyngeal cancer may include:

Throat cancers are often detected late due to subtle early symptoms

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