Cancer jab rolled out to gay men

GAY men are to be offered a vaccine to reduce the risk of cancer in a new pilot starting this week.

The jab protects against the human papilloma virus, which ups the risk of oral, anal and penile cancers.

Health minister Jane Ellison said: “It will be offered at appointments at some sex health clinics.”

But Dr Shaun Griffin of the Terrence Higgins Trust said: “The Government said all men who have sex with men up to 45 would get it.”

School-age girls have had the vaccine since 2008. HPV Action’s Peter Baker said all teen boys should get it too as a precaution.