UKHSA publishes the latest human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine
coverage statistics in England.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is urging young people to
take up the HPV vaccine in schools when offered. Latest figures
overall indicate that uptake is stabilising, with encouraging
signs of increases when people are first offered the vaccine in
year 8.
However, HPV vaccine uptake among school pupils is still well
below pre-pandemic levels of around 90%.
The data include HPV vaccine uptake rates for the 2023
to 2024 academic year, following the move from two doses to
one dose through the routine adolescent HPV programme in
September 2023.
They show that:
- uptake among year 8 females was 72.9% (1.6% higher than the
previous year) and 67.7% for year 8 males (2.5% higher than the
previous year)
- uptake among year 9 females was 74.1% (1.6% lower than the
previous year) and 68.5% for year 9 males (1.2% lower than
previous year)
- uptake among year 10 females was 76.7% (6.5% lower than the
previous year) and 71.2% for year 10 males (7.4% lower than the
previous year)
Data also show the impact of catch-up efforts for HPV vaccination
since the COVID-19 pandemic. HPV coverage for female year 9
pupils was 2.8% higher than the previous academic year when the
same cohort was in year 8. Similarly for male year 9 pupils
uptake was 3.3% higher than in 2022 to 2023.
The NHS HPV vaccination programme in England has been
shown to have dramatically lowered HPV infections and
rates of cervical cancer in vaccine-eligible women, with the
strongest effects seen in those offered vaccination at younger
ages. HPV vaccination also protects men and women
against genital warts and other cancers of the genital areas and
anus, as well as some mouth and throat (head and neck)
cancers.
The HPV vaccine has been offered to all girls in school
year 8 since September 2008. From September 2019, the vaccine has
also been offered to year 8 boys. This is because the evidence is
clear that the HPV vaccine helps protect both boys and
girls from HPV-related cancers.
Dr Sharif Ismail, Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA, said:
The HPV vaccine is one of the most successful in the
world, now given as just a single dose helping to
prevent HPV related cancers from developing in boys and
girls.
It's great to see HPV uptake rates increasing for when children
are first offered the vaccine in year 8, but we need to ensure
that more young people who do not take up the original offer for
any reason are caught up. Good progress was made to catch
up older children immediately after the pandemic and we need to
ensure these efforts are sustained. Our overall uptake rates are
still behind on pre-pandemic years.
We urge young people to take up this potentially life-saving
vaccine when offered. Look out for the invitation from your
school and if you missed your HPV vaccine, you can contact your
GP practice to arrange an appointment - you remain eligible to
receive the vaccine until your 25th birthday.
Cancer Research UK's chief executive, Michelle Mitchell, said:
Every year, around 3,300 people are diagnosed with cervical
cancer in the UK. Thanks to the power of research and efforts of
NHS staff, we can eliminate cervical cancer as a public health
problem in our lifetime - the HPV vaccine combined with cervical
screening can help to bring about a future virtually free from
the disease.
The science is clear: HPV vaccination is safe and effective, and
I encourage all eligible people to take up these life-saving
offers.
Steve Russell, Chief Delivery Officer and National Director for
Vaccinations and Screening at NHS England, said:
The HPV vaccine provides protection against a range of cancers in
just a single dose, and supporting more young people to get
vaccinated is vital to our ambition to eliminate cervical cancer
by 2040.
It's encouraging that today's figures show a rise in vaccination
coverage across year 8 children, but almost a third are still yet
to receive this vital protection.
The NHS HPV vaccine programme is offered to school aged
children in years 8 to 11, with a catch-up offer available at GPs
for those eligible, and it is essential that more young people
get protected to help prevent more cancers and save lives.
