Queensland Health is concerned about the low number of adolescent males, particularly those in Year 10, who are yet to receive the human papillomavirus vaccine.

Acting senior director of the Communicable Diseases Unit Stephen Lambert said 62 per cent of Year 10 males had been vaccinated in the school-based program, compared to 72 per cent of those in Year 8.

The number of boys getting HPV vaccinations decreases with age. Credit:Scott McNaughton

He attributes the lower rate of year 10s being vaccinated to students tendencies to make their own decisions as they grow older.

“People think HPV affects only women, but it can involve problems in males too,” he said.