HPV Vaccine Catch-Up Campaign Targets Young People

A significant campaign is underway to encourage young people who missed their HPV vaccinations in school to come forward for the jab. The vaccine protects against the human papillomavirus, a virus responsible for almost all cases of cervical cancer and is also linked to cancers of the mouth, throat, anus, penis, and vagina. The vaccine is typically offered to boys and girls in school year eight, when they are aged 12-13.

Data indicates that over 418,000 children have left school in the last three years without receiving the HPV vaccine. To address this, GP practices across England will be contacting unprotected individuals aged 16-25 to offer them a catch-up vaccination.

The NHS emphasizes the importance of the HPV vaccine in the fight against cervical cancer. The vaccine is not only crucial for girls and women but also for boys and men, protecting them from cancers of the mouth, throat, and genitals, while also preventing the spread of HPV to sexual partners.

Each year, approximately 3,300 women in the UK are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and around 850 lives are lost to the disease annually. Studies have shown that the HPV vaccine can prevent approximately 90% of cervical cancer cases. The NHS aims to increase vaccine uptake among girls to 90% by 2040.

The NHS is urging anyone eligible for the HPV vaccination, or the parents of eligible children, who missed the vaccine at school to come forward when contacted by their GP. Only a single dose is now required, and it could potentially save a life. The vaccine is also available to individuals up to age 45 with immune-compromised conditions and men who have sex with men.

Public health officials have expressed concern over the decline in vaccine uptake since the pandemic, which has left many at increased risk of HPV-related cancers. The catch-up campaign is seen as a crucial opportunity to ensure that young people are not denied the protection offered by the vaccine.