Australia Adopts Herd-Immunity Approach in Fight Against HPV
On July 12, 2012, Australia took a stand to become the first country to provide coverage of the Gardasil® vaccine to boys between the ages of 12 and 13, through a National Immunization Program-sponsored school-based initiative. In her press release, the minister of health, Tanya Plibersek, stated that the government-sponsored initiative was targeted to synergize with the current immunization program in girls to decrease the incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in the Australian population.
Girls don’t see HPV vaccine as green light for sex
A study by Bednarczyk et al in Atlanta and published in Pediatrics has concluded that HPV vaccination in the recommended ages was not associated with increased sexual activity–related outcome rates.
Nurses in Zimbabwe to prescribe HIV drug
Faced with the ambitious target of reaching 85 percent of people in need of HIV treatment by the end of 2012, the Zimbabwean government has announced that nurses will be trained to prescribe and manage antiretroviral (ARV) drug treatment. Experts welcomed the move but warned that nurses would have to be adequately prepared and supported to take on the additional duties. Previously, nurses were allowed only to administer the drugs after a doctor had prescribed them. Now, changes made in the job descriptions of nurses by the Nurses’ Council of Zimbabwe will see them prescribing the medication. Report from HIV/AIDS/Zimbabwe (HAZ)
UK Sexual Health Awards 2013
Nominations are invited in the following catergories:
- Sexual health professional of the year.
- JLS young person of the year.
- Adult sexual health service/project of the year.
- Pamela Sheridan young people’s sexual health service/project of the year.
- Rosemary Goodchild Award for excellence in sexual health journal.
- Sexual health media campaign/storyline of the year.
- Durex community pharmacy award.
More information and nomination forms from fpa/Brook