Evaluating cost-effectiveness of 9-valent HPV vaccination for men who have sex with men by HIV status in Hong Kong

Abstract

<p>Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection and a leading cause of anal cancer and genital warts, particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM). In Hong Kong, HPV vaccination is currently only offered to school-aged girls, despite the high burden of HPV-related diseases among MSM, especially those living with HIV. Existing cost-effectiveness evaluations of HPV vaccination in Hong Kong primarily focus on female-only strategies and heterosexual men without accounting for differences in HPV infection risks among MSM. In contrast, countries such as the United Kingdom initially implemented free HPV vaccination for MSM through sexual health clinics, followed by an expansion of the programme to include adolescent boys. This provides a potentially useful model for Hong Kong to consider. This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of implementing 9-valent HPV (9vHPV) vaccination strategies among HIV-positive and HIV-negative MSM in Hong Kong.</p>