High HPV Vaccination Coverage Already Achieved In England

Main Category: Cervical Cancer / HPV Vaccine
Also Included In: Sexual Health / STDs;  Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 23 Dec 2008 - 4:00 PST

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More than 70 per cent of 12-13 year old girls have already had their first HPV (human papillomavirus) jab since the vaccination campaign started in September, Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo announced today. This figure will rise as more results come in.

The success of the campaign has prompted the Department of Health to announce that the catch up campaign to vaccinate girls aged 13-17 years will be brought forward to next year.

Early figures out today show that:

* 148 of the 152 Trusts have already started vaccinating young girls;
* 24 Trusts have reported uptake of 90 percent or more; and
* 124 Trusts are already giving the second dose of HPV.

Health Minister Dawn Primarolo said "This vaccination programme is about saving lives. It's great news that more than 70 per cent of 12-13 year old girls have already had their first vaccine doses. I want to thank the local health teams, schools, girls and parents for making this programme such a success. Next year we'll be investing more money so that Trusts can bring forward their catch-up programmes to cover 13-17 year old girls. This means that girls can be offered protection against cervical cancer earlier."

The Department of Health will bring forward up to £17 million for Trusts in 2009 to implement this accelerated programme and ensure the roll out is a success.

Notes:

1. The vaccine protects against two strains of HPV which cause over 70 per cent of cases of cervical cancer.

2. The routine HPV vaccination programme was introduced for girls aged 12-13 years (school year 8) in September this year and will continue each year. Young women/girls aged 17-18 years (school year 13) born between 1 September 1990 to 31 August 1991 (inc) are also being offered the HPV vaccine.

3. The initial plan was that:
- Girls/young women aged 16 - 18 years (school years 12 and 13) born between 1 September 1991 to 31 August 1993 inclusive, would be offered the vaccine in the 2009/10 school year.
- girls aged 15-17 years (school years 11 and 12) born between 1 September 1993 to 31 August 1995 inclusive, would be offered the vaccine in the 2010/11 school year.

4. By accelerating the programme, we are encouraging PCTs to deliver the catch-up programme next year to all girls born between 1 September 1991 and 31 August 1995.

5. It is estimated that the routine HPV vaccination for girls aged 12-13 could save the lives of up to 400 women each year. The catch up programme over the next three years will also save hundreds more lives.

Department of Health http://www.dh.gov.uk