Expanding the case for gender-neutral human papillomavirus vaccination in South Africa: Emerging neonatal and ethical considerations

African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine

 
 
Field Value
 
Title Expanding the case for gender-neutral human papillomavirus vaccination in South Africa: Emerging neonatal and ethical considerations
 
Creator Scheepers, Vanessa C. Gardner, Jillian
 
Subject Maternal and Neonatal Health human papillomavirus; neonatal outcomes; maternal transmission; paternal transmission; gender-neutral vaccination; ethical concerns
Description Human papillomavirus (HPV) is widely recognised for its role in causing cervical cancer, prompting many countries, including South Africa, to prioritise girls in school-based vaccination programmes. This short report presents an exploratory case for expanding HPV vaccination to adolescent boys as well, drawing on emerging, but still limited evidence of maternal and paternal HPV transmission to neonates. Although current data on neonatal risks are preliminary, the possibility of vertical transmission and associations with respiratory papillomatosis, preterm birth and fertility issues warrant further investigation. Beyond neonatal outcomes, gender-neutral HPV vaccination offers ethical and public health benefits by promoting equitable protection, enhancing herd immunity and addressing transmission dynamics. Recent advances, including the World Health Organization-endorsed single-dose schedules and the availability of affordable vaccines, provide opportunities to revisit cost-effectiveness analyses. We recommend further context-specific research and modelling to quantify the long-term benefits of gender-neutral strategies in South Africa and similar settings.
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor Jillian Gardner, University of the Witwatersrand
Date 2025-09-30
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — Review
Format text/html application/epub+zip text/xml application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/phcfm.v17i1.5035
 
Source African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine; Vol 17, No 1 (2025); 3 pages 2071-2936 2071-2928
 
Language eng
 
Relation
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:

https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/5035/8686 https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/5035/8687 https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/5035/8688 https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/5035/8689
 
Coverage South Africa — —
Rights Copyright (c) 2025 Vanessa C. Scheepers, Jillian Gardner https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
ADVERTISEMENT

International Tel: 021 975 2602

15 Oxford street, Durbanville, Cape Town, 7550 (South Africa)
Copyright © AOSIS (Pty) Ltd. All rights reserved.
No unauthorised duplication allowed