Latest news with #GPpractices
The Independent
29-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Urgent cervical cancer plea issued to women
More than 3,000 women in the UK are diagnosed with cervical cancer annually, with approximately a third of eligible women overdue for screening. A study led by Queen Mary University of London and King's College London suggests that offering at-home self-tests for HPV could prevent up to 1,000 cervical cancer cases each year. The research, conducted across 13 GP practices in West London, found that 52 per cent of women accepted and returned a self-sampling kit when offered in-person at an appointment. Uptake was significantly lower for postal offers, at 12 per cent for kits and 5 per cent for letters offering a kit. Home-testing kits for HPV are set to be rolled out in England for those overdue for cervical cancer screening, providing an alternative to internal examinations.
BBC News
23-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
NHS urge young people to get HPV jab to protect against cancer
The NHS is urging hundreds of thousands of people yet to have the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to get protected against cervical and other practices will send invitations via letters, emails, texts and the NHS App to patients aged 16-25 whose records show they did not get it in June, government data found inequalities in vaccine uptake in different regions in 2023-2024, with the lowest rate seen in London for both female and male year 10 vaccine is offered each year to boys and girls aged 12 to 13 to help protect them against catching the infection which causes nearly all cervical cancers and is linked to mouth, throat, anus, penis and vagina cancers. 'Get protected' According to NHS England data, in the past three years more than 418,000 children left school unvaccinated for HPV – and there are believed to be many others aged 16-25 who were not vaccinated at bosses want to reach as many as possible, under plans to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040 - set out in the recently published 10 Year Health NHS aims to increase uptake among girls to 90% by 2040, while also increasing the number of women getting cervical vaccine can also be given to those up to age 45 with immune-compromised conditions and to men who have sex with other England added that the latest HPV vaccine, introduced in England in 2021, was proven to be more effective – and in the long term is predicted to reduce cases of women's cancer by 16% and HPV-attributable deaths by 9%, compared with the previous in England have shown that the HPV vaccine stops 90% of cervical cancer Amanda Doyle, from NHS England, said: "Too many lives are lost to cervical cancer so the hard work of NHS staff across the country in vaccinating and screening as many people as possible will help us to meet our ambition of wiping out this disease."Encouraging progress has been made recently in increasing uptake but we know there is much more to do."Dr Sharif Ismail, from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said: "We know that uptake of the HPV vaccination in young people has fallen significantly since the pandemic, leaving many many thousands across the country at greater risk of HPV-related cancers. "We're calling on all parents to return their children's HPV vaccination consent forms promptly."For young adults up to age 25, who missed their school vaccinations, please speak to your GP about catch-up options. It's never too late to get protected."
Daily Mail
21-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Hundreds of thousands of young people urged to have vaccine that protects against cancer linked to oral sex
Health chiefs are urging the 418,000 under-25s who left school without receiving a life-saving cancer vaccine to come forward for the jab. The HPV vaccine, routinely offered to children aged 12 to 13 in Year 8, protects against human papillomavirus—a common infection linked to several cancers. Around 80 per cent of the population will be exposed to HPV at some point, usually through sexual contact. Children are targeted for vaccination before they have been exposed—with the aim of providing protection through into adulthood. In most cases the virus is harmless, but in some cases it can trigger changes in DNA that lead to cervical cancer, and cancers of the penis and anus. When someone performs oral sex on a partner with HPV, the virus can infect cells in the mouth and throat. The vaccine, which is proven in studies to be highly effective, prevents this from happening. Now, GP practices across England will invite patients aged 16 to 25 to get vaccinated via letters, emails, texts and the NHS App. Experts have previously warned that low uptake of the HPV vaccine is putting children at risk of developing cancer later in life. They believe this may be partly due to a misconception that the jab is only relevant to sexually transmitted infections—and therefore not necessary for children. In the 2023/24 academic year, 76.7 per cent of girls and 71.2 per cent of boys had received the vaccine by Year 10. Uptake in Year 8—when the jab is first offered—also rose slightly on the previous year, by 1.6 percentage points in girls and 2.5 in boys. The new push is part of the NHS's goal to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040, by increasing vaccine coverage and boosting cervical screening rates. It aims to raise uptake among girls to 90 per cent by the same date. Dr Amanda Doyle, NHS England's national director of primary care, said: 'This vaccine is vital to our efforts to eradicate cervical cancer in girls and women – but it's just as important for boys, too. 'So if you're eligible for a HPV vaccination or are the parent of a child who is eligible, but didn't get the vaccine at school when they had the chance, I would urge you to come forward when your GP contacts you.' Dr Sharif Ismail, a consultant epidemiologist at the UK Health Security Agency said: 'We know that uptake of the HPV vaccination in young people has fallen significantly since the pandemic.' This he warned has left 'many many thousands across the country' at greater risk of HPV-related cancers. 'This is a real concern as each HPV vaccine, now just a single dose offered in schools, gives a young person good protection against the devastating impact of these cancers,' Dr Ismail added. '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.' He also urged young adults up to the age of 25, who didn't get the jab to speak to their GP about catch-up options, because 'it's never too late to get protected.' Public Health and Prevention Minister, Ashley Dalton, added: 'If you've missed your vaccination at school. It isn't too late. 'Don't hesitate to make an appointment with your GP. One jab could save your life.' The vaccine can also be given to those up to age 45 with immune-compromised conditions and men who have sex with other men. Previously children were required to get two vaccinations, but as of September 2023 they only need one new jab. The latest HPV vaccine, first introduced in England in 2021, is proven to be more effective. In the long term the jab is predicted to reduce cases of women's cancer by 16 per cent and HPV attributable deaths by nine per cent more than the previous type. Importantly, studies in England have shown that the HPV vaccine stops 90 per cent of cervical cancer cases.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Officials urge those who left school without lifesaving vaccine to get protected
Health officials have urged hundreds of thousands of people to get a vaccine that protects against certain cancers. It comes amid warnings that more than 418,000 children have left school with no protection against human papillomavirus (HPV) in the last three years. The HPV vaccine is offered to boys and girls when they are in Year 8 and is key to wiping out cervical cancer in the UK. Around 13 high-risk types of HPV are known to cause 99.7% of cervical cancers. The jab also protects against genital warts and head and neck cancers, such as those in the mouth or throat. Now, GP practices in England will invite 16 to 25-year-olds to have the vaccine if records show they did not have it in school. According to NHS England, more than 418,000 children left school without having the jab in the last three years, with concerns there are many more people aged 16 to 25 who are not protected. Dr Amanda Doyle, national director of primary care and community services, said: 'This vaccine is hugely important in our fight to eradicate cervical cancer but it isn't just for girls and women – it's also vital for boys and men to get vaccinated to protect themselves against cancers of the mouth, throat or genitals, while preventing spreading the HPV infection to sexual partners who could then develop cervical cancer. 'Too many lives are lost to cervical cancer so the hard work of NHS staff across the country in vaccinating and screening as many people as possible will help us to meet our ambition of wiping out this disease. 'Encouraging progress has been made recently in increasing uptake but we know there is much more to do. 'So if you're eligible for a HPV vaccination or are the parent of a child who is eligible, but didn't get the vaccine at school when they had the chance, I would urge you to come forward when your GP contacts you. 'Only a single dose is required and it could save you or your child's life.' Data shows that in the 2023/24 academic year, some 76.7% of girls and 71.2% of boys aged 14 to 15 were vaccinated against HPV by Year 10. Uptake in Year 8 increased to 72.9% among girls and 67.7% among boys, from 71.3% and 65.2% respectively a year earlier. The health service will aim to boost uptake among girls to 90% as part of plans to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040. It will also aim to increase the number of women attending cervical cancer screening appointments. Public health minister Ashley Dalton said the vaccine 'is our most powerful tool in our fight to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040' but said there is a 'long way to go'. 'Thousands of young people are still unvaccinated and vulnerable to this disease – which is so easily prevented,' she added. Last month, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warned young women in some parts of England are at greater risk of cervical cancer because not enough children are getting the jab. Analysis by the agency showed inequalities in vaccine uptake in some regions – by Year 10, HPV coverage in girls was lowest in London (64.9%) and highest in the South East (82.7%). Among boys, it was also lowest in London (58.9%) and highest in the South East (77.3%). Meanwhile, at local authority level, Year 10 vaccination levels in girls ranged from 38.7% (Lambeth in London) to 97.6% (Northumberland). Among boys, it ranged from 28.2% (Lambeth in London) to 92.2% (West Berkshire). Dr Sharif Ismail, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: 'We know that uptake of the HPV vaccination in young people has fallen significantly since the pandemic, leaving many, many thousands across the country at greater risk of HPV-related cancers. 'This is a real concern as each HPV vaccine, now just a single dose offered in schools, gives a young person good protection against the devastating impact of these cancers, which includes cervical, genital, mouth and throat cancers. 'This new catch-up campaign is a really important opportunity for us to make sure that no teenage girl or boy, young woman or man is denied that protection.'
The Independent
21-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Officials urge those who left school without lifesaving vaccine to get protected
Health officials have urged hundreds of thousands of people to get a vaccine that protects against certain cancers. It comes amid warnings that more than 418,000 children have left school with no protection against human papillomavirus (HPV) in the last three years. The HPV vaccine is offered to boys and girls when they are in Year 8 and is key to wiping out cervical cancer in the UK. England who left school without receiving the HPV vaccine in the last three years" data-source=" NHS England"> Around 13 high-risk types of HPV are known to cause 99.7% of cervical cancers. The jab also protects against genital warts and head and neck cancers, such as those in the mouth or throat. Now, GP practices in England will invite 16 to 25-year-olds to have the vaccine if records show they did not have it in school. According to NHS England, more than 418,000 children left school without having the jab in the last three years, with concerns there are many more people aged 16 to 25 who are not protected. Dr Amanda Doyle, national director of primary care and community services, said: 'This vaccine is hugely important in our fight to eradicate cervical cancer but it isn't just for girls and women – it's also vital for boys and men to get vaccinated to protect themselves against cancers of the mouth, throat or genitals, while preventing spreading the HPV infection to sexual partners who could then develop cervical cancer. 'Too many lives are lost to cervical cancer so the hard work of NHS staff across the country in vaccinating and screening as many people as possible will help us to meet our ambition of wiping out this disease. 'Encouraging progress has been made recently in increasing uptake but we know there is much more to do. 'So if you're eligible for a HPV vaccination or are the parent of a child who is eligible, but didn't get the vaccine at school when they had the chance, I would urge you to come forward when your GP contacts you. 'Only a single dose is required and it could save you or your child's life.' Data shows that in the 2023/24 academic year, some 76.7% of girls and 71.2% of boys aged 14 to 15 were vaccinated against HPV by Year 10. Uptake in Year 8 increased to 72.9% among girls and 67.7% among boys, from 71.3% and 65.2% respectively a year earlier. The health service will aim to boost uptake among girls to 90% as part of plans to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040. It will also aim to increase the number of women attending cervical cancer screening appointments. Public health minister Ashley Dalton said the vaccine 'is our most powerful tool in our fight to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040' but said there is a 'long way to go'. 'Thousands of young people are still unvaccinated and vulnerable to this disease – which is so easily prevented,' she added. Last month, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warned young women in some parts of England are at greater risk of cervical cancer because not enough children are getting the jab. Analysis by the agency showed inequalities in vaccine uptake in some regions – by Year 10, HPV coverage in girls was lowest in London (64.9%) and highest in the South East (82.7%). Among boys, it was also lowest in London (58.9%) and highest in the South East (77.3%). Meanwhile, at local authority level, Year 10 vaccination levels in girls ranged from 38.7% (Lambeth in London) to 97.6% (Northumberland). Among boys, it ranged from 28.2% (Lambeth in London) to 92.2% (West Berkshire). Dr Sharif Ismail, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: 'We know that uptake of the HPV vaccination in young people has fallen significantly since the pandemic, leaving many, many thousands across the country at greater risk of HPV-related cancers. 'This is a real concern as each HPV vaccine, now just a single dose offered in schools, gives a young person good protection against the devastating impact of these cancers, which includes cervical, genital, mouth and throat cancers. 'This new catch-up campaign is a really important opportunity for us to make sure that no teenage girl or boy, young woman or man is denied that protection.'
