日本性感染症学会誌 Journal of Japanese Society for Sexually Transmitted Infections

Most adult men and women have been infected by human papillomavirus (HPV) in their life. High-risk HPVs can cause neoplastic lesions in any location infected by HPV infects, and low-risk HPV 6/11 causes condyloma acuminata. Cervical cancer is a cancer associated with HPV and has a high incidence worldwide. Condyloma acuminata is one of the major sexually transmitted diseases in Japan. The HPV vaccine was developed and implemented in 2007 in Japan. Since 2013, the HPV vaccine has been included in the National Immunization Program. However, after some adverse events were mentioned by the mass media, the Japanese government suspended proactive recommendation of the HPV vaccination in June 2013, and HPV vaccination has not yet resumed in Japan. In Japan, numerous academic societies have stated the safety and efficiency of the HPV vaccine not only to the government, but also to the citizens. Many studies have demonstrated the population-based impact of HPV vaccine in Japan and the safety of the vaccine. However, a negative anti-vaccination campaign by some citizens has influenced mass media and the citizens’ voice. This has resulted in an HPV vaccine crisis occurred in Japan. We plan to discuss what we should do to resume HPV vaccination in Japan. We, as an academic society, might change how the HPV vaccine is viewed by citizens based on accurate medical communication and explain the reasons for adverse event occurrence after HPV vaccination. However, the most important issue is how we can educate girls and their parents. In Japan, cancer education has not been well covered in schools. Herein, we describe the current situation regarding the HPV vaccination and cancer education in Japan.