The newly published statement from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) clearly states that offering vaccinations to men who have sex with men at GUM and HIV clinics is proven to be a cost-effective option for preventing HPV infection.

Shirley Cramer CBE, Chief Executive of RSPH, said: “The newly published statement from the JCVI clearly states that offering vaccinations to MSM at GUM and HIV clinics is proven to be a cost-effective option for preventing HPV infection.

"Given this we don’t understand why yet further consultation is required. It is imperative that we stop dithering and make a decision, every day that passes 1000s of men are put at risk of infection from a cancer-causing virus. The time it will take for a further consultation is just facilitating time for more men to contract HPV.

Furthermore, while extending the vaccination to MSM is a positive step, we implore the committee to reach a decision and introduce a vaccination for all boys. Vaccinating MSM still leaves a significant proportion of the population at risk of HPV and vaccinating all girls and boys is the only way forward.”

>Read the full statement here.