(ETX Daily Up) – A quarter of French people are not convinced by vaccination once morest human papillomaviruses (HPV), reveals an OpinionWay poll for the League once morest Cancer. However, in France, 2,900 deaths are recorded each year due to cancers linked to sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
About 6,300 cases of cancers linked to human papillomavirus (HPV) are diagnosed each year in France, causing nearly 3,000 deaths. To limit the risks, there is a simple gesture: vaccination. According to an OpinionWay* survey for the League Against Cancer, a quarter of French people (24%) are not convinced by the vaccination of girls once morest papillomavirus. For boys, this percentage rises to 30%.
Lack of information from parents
One in two parents (51%) say they are poorly informed regarding the risks associated with papillomaviruses. Among parents of children under 10, this percentage rises to 58%. However, the vast majority (81%) of parents of children between 11 and 19 years old, therefore old enough to be vaccinated, say they are ready to vaccinate their toddler if their general practitioner recommends it.
Some parents are wary regarding vaccinating their child. For 43% of parents, this vaccine lacks evidence of its effectiveness. 41% believe that we “lack perspective on the long-term effects”. The lack of information regarding the vaccine and the fear of side effects such as allergies or infertility puts off 36% of parents.
In total, 28% of respondents say they are opposed to HPV vaccination. Among this panel, 46% believe that we lack perspective. 41% fear side effects and for 39% of them there is no proof of its effectiveness. A feeling exacerbated by the pandemic, “44% declare that their level of confidence in vaccination has dropped since the Covid-19 crisis; they are 54% among parents”, specifies the League once morest cancer in a press release.
“These results are alarming: they demonstrate the existing misunderstandings regarding HPV infections and vaccines. (…) We must redouble our efforts to preserve the health of the people concerned, particularly in the current health context which exacerbates mistrust towards vaccinations”, warns in a press release Daniel Nizri, volunteer president of the League once morest cancer.
“The proportion of boys vaccinated once morest HPV remains insignificant”
“About 80% of women and men will be exposed to these viruses during their lifetime”, warns the League in a press release. In Sweden, in young girls vaccinated before the age of 17, precancerous lesions are reduced by 75%; in Australia, since 2005, the vaccine has been given to boys and girls. Result ? “The proportion of people infected with HPV has fallen from 23% to 1.5% in 10 years”, specifies the League.
In France, vaccination coverage is still below the target of the 2014-2019 cancer plan. 41% of 15-year-olds received a dose in 2020, compared to 35% in 2019. Only 33% of adolescents have the full regimen at 16. “The proportion of boys vaccinated once morest HPV remains insignificant”, warns the League.
*Survey carried out on April 6 and 7, 2022 with a sample, made up according to the quota method, of 1,048 people representative of the French population aged 18 and over.
Louis Tardy
