HPV vaccination for boys? A systematic review of economic studies.
BACKGROUND
HPV vaccination is recommended in many countries, including Italy, for girls in their twelfth year of age. In some countries, the goal of vaccination coverage has not been reached, and extension to boys has thus been debated.


OBJECTIVE
Aim of this study is to perform a systematic review of pharmaco-economic studies considering the extension of HPV vaccination to boys.


METHODS
An electronic literature search was performed on Pubmed to identify studies published from 2005 to 2015 in English and Italian. Four search strategies were used, including the terms «HPV», «boys», «vaccination», «economic evaluation», «cost effectiveness», and «epidemiological impact». Screening of titles, abstracts, and full texts was conducted, and economical evaluation of the extension of HPV vaccination to males was considered a criteria of inclusion. A total of 289 articles were identified. Only 15 articles were finally considered pertinent.


RESULTS
The extension of HPV vaccination to boys was cost-effective or potentially cost-effective in 53%and 7%of the studies, respectively. Six studies did not positively evaluate the implementation of this intervention. However, taking into account both the new two-dose vaccination schedule available for all subjects ≤13 years, and the dramatic reduction in the price of vaccines in the last few years, the advantages of universal vaccination are more consistent.


CONCLUSIONS
The extension of HPV vaccination to boys is therefore foreseen to become increasingly implemented in the near future.
Scuola di specializzazione in Igiene e medicina preventiva, Università di Firenze, Italy. ersiliasinisgalli@libero.it.
Ersilia
E
Sinisgalli
Scuola di specializzazione in Igiene e medicina preventiva, Università di Firenze, Italy. ersiliasinisgalli@libero.it.
Irene
I
Bellini
Scuola di specializzazione in Igiene e medicina preventiva, Università di Firenze, Italy. ersiliasinisgalli@libero.it.
Laura
L
Indiani
Scuola di specializzazione in Igiene e medicina preventiva, Università di Firenze, Italy. ersiliasinisgalli@libero.it.
Antonio
A
Sala
Dip. Scienze della salute, Università di Firenze, Italy.
Angela
A
Bechini
Dip. Scienze della salute, Università di Firenze, Italy.
Paolo
P
Bonanni
Dip. Scienze della salute, Università di Firenze, Italy.
Sara
S
Boccalini
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D032521:Immunity, Herd; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines / Q000191:economics; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D014611:Vaccination / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines