Vaccination against human papillomavirus in childhood: the next rubella analogue?

Direct comparisons between different vaccination programmes can reveal new targets and solve challenges that have been faced and managed in the past during similar health interventions. In the rubella vaccination programme both boys and girls were included in order to ensure that women of childbearing age are effectively protected. For human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, at the moment only girls have been included into the scheme. The aspect of vaccinating both boys and girls against HPV, similarly to the rubella paradigm, would interrupt "high-risk" HPVs transmission from males to females and vice versa ensuring further elimination of HPV. The new generation of HPV vaccines is expected to cost less and this will contribute to the possible introduction of HPV vaccine in both males and females.