Women at risk of ‘preventable' cancer due to ‘alarmingly' low uptake of ‘life-saving' jab, health chiefs warn
YOUNG women are at higher risk of a "preventable" cancer due to "alarmingly" low uptake of life-saving NHS jabs, health chiefs have warned.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines are dished out to 12 and 13-year-olds and offer protection against cancer-causing strains of the virus.
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But low uptake of jabs in certain parts of England is leaving young women vulnerable to cervical cancer and other forms of the disease caused by HPV.
HPV is a common virus that's spread through skin contact, usually during sex.
Most strains are harmless but some high-risk ones can increase people's chances of developing cervical cancer, as well as mouth, anal, penile, vulval and vaginal cancer.
Around 13 high-risk types of HPV are known to cause 99.7 per cent of cervical cancers.
Health bosses have made it their mission to eliminate cervical cancer in England by 2040.
But despite efforts to increase vaccine uptake in teens, the latest data published by the UK Health Security Agency (HPV) shows gaps in coverage in certain parts of the country, leaving young women in these areas at higher risk of HPV-related cancer.
The data on HPV coverage in teens for 2023/24 showed that only 64.9 per cent of Year 10 female students in London had received their jabs.
Coverage was also low for boys of the same age in the capital, with only 59 per cent taking up the offer for an HPV vaccine.
Meanwhile, HPV coverage was highest in the South East for both genders - where 82.7 per cent of girls and 77.3 per cent of boys had gotten vaccinated by Year 10.
At local authority level, Year 10 vaccination levels in girls ranged from 38.7 per cent in Lambeth, South London, to 97.6 per cent in Northumberland.
Cervical cancer could be eradicated as HPV vaccine slashes 90% of cases
For boys, it ranged from 28.2 per cent in Lambeth to 92.2 per cent in West Berkshire.
Cervical cancer rates are already 65 per cent higher in England 's most deprived areas compared with the least, according to figures from Cancer Research UK.
Dr Sharif Ismail, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: "The HPV vaccine, now just a single dose offered in schools, is one of the most powerful tools we have for cancer prevention.
"Every vaccination represents a young person with better protection against the devastating impact of HPV-related cancers and we must do more to ensure that no teenage girl or boy, young woman or man is denied that protection no matter where they live.
"Although we have seen some increase in the number of young people being vaccinated, uptake is still well below pre-Covid pandemic levels
"Over a quarter of young people - many thousands - are missing out on this potentially life-saving vaccine."
The HPV jab is given to boys and girls when they are in Year 8, though some children receive it in Year 9.
It delivers a significantly stronger immune response if given before the age of 16, though getting it when older as part of a catch-up programme still creates a strong response.
Anyone who missed their HPV vaccination, now just a single jab, can still receive it for free until their 25th birthday through their GP surgery.
Up until recently, the HPV jab was only offered to girls.
But boys also have an important role to play in helping eliminate cervical cancer by being vaccinated and not passing on the HPV virus when they become sexually active, UKHSA said.
Jabs were rolled out to teenage boys in 2019.
'Beat cancer for everyone'
Dr Ismail said: "We're calling on all parents to return their children's HPV vaccination consent forms promptly.
"This simple action could protect your child from developing cancer in the future."
Dr Ismail said any young adult up to age 25 who missed their school jab can speak to their GP about catch-up options.
He also urged women to still attend cervical screening to ensure they are being checked for changes that could lead to cervical cancer.
"Even if you've had the HPV vaccine, it's vital you still attend your cervical screening appointments when invited," Dr Ismail said.
"Both vaccination and screening together give you your best chance of protection against cervical cancer.
"Screening can detect abnormal cells before they develop into cancer, allowing for early treatment and prevention."
It comes after UKHSA warned earlier this year that over a quarter of schoolkids hadn't had their HPV jab.
Cancer Research UK chief executive Michelle Mitchell said: "Thanks to the power of research and the efforts of NHS staff, a future where almost nobody gets cervical cancer is in sight.
"This progress hinges on people's access to two life-saving offers - HPV vaccination and screening. Together, they give the best protection against the disease.
"Beating cervical cancer means beating it for everyone, so I encourage all parents and guardians to ensure young people don't miss out on getting the HPV vaccine.
"And if you receive your cervical screening invite, don't ignore it."
Dr Amanda Doyle OBE, national director for primary care and community services at NHS England, said: "The NHS HPV vaccination programme has already helped save thousands of lives and we need to go further to boost uptake of HPV vaccines and cervical screening to help eliminate cervical cancer in England by 2040.
"If we can ensure that almost every Year 10 girl in some areas is protected and extremely unlikely to ever develop cervical cancer, we need to match this in every part of the country.
"It's vital for boys and young men to be vaccinated too. Rates in boys still lag behind girls and HPV causes thousands of cancers in men as well as things like genital warts."
Everything you need to know about the HPV vaccine
The HPV vaccine protects against some of the risky HPV types that can lead to genital warts and cancer.
Gardasil has been the HPV vaccine used in the NHS vaccination programme since 2012. It is protective against nine types of HPV.
For example it is effective against types 16 and 18 which cause around 80 per cent of cervical cancers in the UK.
That's why it is important for people who have a cervix to still get a smear test when invited by the NHS.
Cervical cancer takes the lives of 854 people a year currently - but this is expected to continue decreasing thanks to the vaccine.
There are around 3,200 new cases of the devastating cancer a year, with peak incidence in women in their early 30s.
But the HPV vaccine doesn't just prevent cervical cancer - it stops some anal, genital (vaginal and penile), mouth and throat (head and neck) cancers.
These affect both men and women.
Who should take it?
The first dose of the HPV vaccine is routinely offered to girls and boys aged 12 and 13 in school Year 8.
The second dose is offered 6 to 24 months after the 1st dose.
If a school child misses their doses, you can speak to the school jab team or GP surgery to book as soon as possible.
Anyone who missed their jab can get it up to their 25th birthday.
But people who have the first dose of the HPV vaccine at 15 years of age or above will need to have three doses of the vaccine because they do not respond as well to two doses as younger people do.
The HPV vaccine used to only be given to girls who are at risk of cervical cancer when they are older.
But in 2018, it was announced that boys - who can get HPV-related cancers of the head, nech, anal and genitals - would also be given a jab.
Girls indirectly protect boys against HPV related cancers and genital warts because girls will not pass HPV on to them.
But the programme was extended to further eliminate risk of the virus spreading in the future.
Men who have sex with men (gay and bisexual) do not benefit from this indirect protection, and so are also able to get the HPV vaccine up to the age of 45.
Some transgender people can also get the vaccine.
Those assigned female at birth would have gotten one as a child. But those assigned male at birth could get a jab if they transition to female and have sex with men.
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Metro
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The Guardian
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