Latest news with #HPV
BBC News
6 hours ago
- 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."
Euractiv
10 hours ago
- Health
- Euractiv
A vaccine against cancer – but not for everyone
Some EU countries are beating HPV-related cancers, but others fail to provide life-saving measures. When Kim Hulscher sits upright at a table, her right leg swells. This is a lasting effect of lymphedema, a common cancer-related condition she developed after her cervical cancer treatment. 'I have to buy shoes that are twice my size because my foot won't fit into normal ones,' she says. Now, more than a decade after her diagnosis, she is speaking at the European Parliament during a conference titled 'Accelerating Progress Towards the EU's Goal of Eliminating HPV Cancers,' hosted by the European Cancer Organisation and the vice-chair of the Health Committee, Tilly Metz. Hulscher is there as co-chair of the European Society of Gynaecological Oncology – and as a cancer survivor committed to helping spare others what she went through. Hulscher's cervical cancer, like many others, was caused by a type of Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which can often be prevented through vaccination and detected early through screening. Far from elimination Yet Europe is still far from stopping these cancers. According to the World Health Organization, cervical cancer elimination means reducing incidence to fewer than four cases per 100,000 women. The most optimistic projections suggest that Europe could achieve this goal by 2050. In 2022, the ratio stood at 56 per 100,000 across the European Economic Area (EEA), which includes the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. Around 130,000 women were newly diagnosed, and 14,000 died. HPV-linked head and neck cancers also remain significant causes of mortality. In 2022, 86,000 people were diagnosed, 74% of them men. These cancers caused about 26,000 deaths across the region. Vaccination at a young age is the most effective way to prevent such deaths. Once sexually active, HPV infection is nearly unavoidable. 'It is as contagious as a cold,' said Hulscher. Another participant put it more vividly: 'HPV is like glitter – it gets everywhere: in your car, in your pockets. So it doesn't have to be penetrative sex to catch it.' Often, HPV infections clear up on their own without causing lasting damage, and only about a dozen of the over 200 known HPV types are cancer-causing. However, the only sure way to avoid infection with these is to live like a nun or a monk. Last year, the European Council adopted recommendations urging countries to fully vaccinate at least 90% of girls and significantly increase uptake among boys. All EU member states now offer gender-neutral vaccination. Only five EEA countries – Portugal, Sweden, Cyprus, Iceland, and Norway – have reached the 90% coverage target for girls. 'There is a lot of work to be done,' said Karam Adel, principal expert at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. He also noted a 'huge disparity between West and East,' with some countries reporting female coverage well below 50%. The price of inaction According to conference participants, vaccine scepticism, limited registries, and underfunded national vaccination programmes remain major roadblocks. The benefits of prevention, however, are not only medical but also financial. In a study involving six European countries (Romania, Poland, France, Austria, the Netherlands, and Germany), Maarten J. Postma, professor of medical sciences and an expert in health economics, estimated potential savings of €2.75 billion between 2030 and 2060. All it would take is for these countries to reach the 90% HPV vaccination target by 2030, along with WHO-recommended screening and treatment goals. 'We should conceive vaccination – and prevention in general – not as a cost but rather as an investment,' said Postma. Still, awareness remains low. "Consistently, studies show that whether it's children, young adults, or parents, people are unaware of the consequences of HPV infections," said Adel. He also stressed the importance of ongoing screening, even for those who are vaccinated, as vaccines do not cover all high-risk HPV types. Metz echoed the call for stronger education. "To truly eliminate HPV, we need progressive, inclusive, and scientifically accurate education – because empowering young people with knowledge is one of the most effective forms of prevention," she said. (de)
Asia News Network
10 hours ago
- Health
- Asia News Network
Most Malaysian women still unaware of risks of cervical cancer, HPV
July 23, 2025 PETALING JAYA – The biggest barrier to preventing cervical cancer and human papillomavirus (HPV) is the failure to recognise personal risk, says Prof Dr Murallitharan Munisamy. The National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM) managing director said many women wrongly believe they are not at risk because they feel healthy. 'The gap lies in the perception that I'm healthy, so I don't see the need for vaccination or screening. 'Another issue is ignorance – many assume HPV is only spread through sex, and since they have only one partner, they believe they're not at risk,' he said. He was responding to Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad's statement that more than 10,500 Malaysian women tested positive for HPV over the past five years through cervical cancer screening efforts. Dr Murallitharan also said many women are willing to spend on spas or beauty treatments but hesitate to invest in health screenings or vaccinations. He said following the success of the 'Leaving No One Behind' HPV vaccination programme last year, NCSM plans to partner with general practitioners to offer 70% subsidies for screenings. 'We are changing our approach. Instead of waiting for patients to come to us, we'll go to them,' he said. Echoing the concern, Malaysian Council for Child Welfare advisor Datuk Dr Raj Abdul Karim said many women do not take their health seriously enough. 'Many women don't realise that silent blood pressure or diabetes affects your health and even cancer can be invisible at times. 'As such, we need more advocacy and programmes for women on this, to emphasise that even if they feel well, they still need to get screening,' she added. She said the HPV vaccine can prevent high-risk strains linked to cervical cancer. 'So we need to accelerate the intake of the vaccine and have access to more screening among women, since cervical cancer is preventable,' she added. Dr Raj also recommended regular Pap smears for women aged 20 to 50, especially those who are sexually active. She said HPV DNA self-sampling could help eliminate cultural taboos and expand access for rural and vulnerable groups. Women's Aid Organisation executive director Nazreen Nizam said the conversation must shift from blaming women to addressing the systemic inequalities that limit access to healthcare. She said despite the introduction of the HPV vaccine in 2019, the lack of consistent and widespread public education has left many women unaware of its importance or how to access it. 'The government must invest in sustained, multilingual and culturally relevant public awareness campaigns, and ensure that screening services and vaccines are free or subsidised for all women, regardless of their citizenship or location. 'One possibility is to introduce age-based automatic subsidies for screenings, integrated into existing public healthcare systems and even GP clinics, so that it becomes part of routine care. 'But access alone isn't enough – the healthcare environment must also be safe, non-judgmental and respectful of women's autonomy and lived realities,' she said. HPV is the leading cause of cervical cancer, and any sexually active person can contract it. In Malaysia, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women aged 15 to 44.
LeMonde
12 hours ago
- Health
- LeMonde
In Nepal, an HPV vaccination campaign falls victim to US budget cuts, as seen through the lens of Nanna Heitmann
A few days after arriving at the White House, US President Donald Trump abruptly froze US foreign development aid. The measure was quickly followed by the gradual dismantling of USAID, the main instrument of American humanitarian diplomacy, resulting in the complete suspension of many international aid grants. To confirm his administration's intentions, US Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declared on June 26 that the government was suspending its partnership with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. He warned, "Until Gavi considers all available science and re-earns public trust, the United States will not contribute further funding." Gavi said it had received $300 million from the US in 2024. This winter, photographer Nanna Heitmann followed the first large-scale HPV vaccination campaign in Nepal, funded by Gavi. Around 1.6 million girls between the ages of 10 and 14 received the vaccine. The assignment also gave Heitmann the opportunity to meet communities often far from the spotlight and media attention, especially in Timang, a Himalayan village located at 2,615 meters above sea level. The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most widespread sexually transmitted infection in the world and is responsible for many cases of cervical cancer. Its impact is greatest in low- and middle-income countries, where reaching at-risk populations through vaccination is particularly challenging. With the withdrawal of US support, this first vaccination campaign may well be the last.
The Star
15 hours ago
- Health
- The Star
Most Malaysian women still unaware
PETALING JAYA: The biggest barrier to preventing cervical cancer and human papillomavirus (HPV) is the failure to recognise personal risk, says Prof Dr Murallitharan Munisamy. The National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM) managing director said many women wrongly believe they are not at risk because they feel healthy. 'The gap lies in the perception that I'm healthy, so I don't see the need for vaccination or screening. 'Another issue is ignorance – many assume HPV is only spread through sex, and since they have only one partner, they believe they're not at risk,' he said. He was responding to Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad's statement that more than 10,500 Malaysian women tested positive for HPV over the past five years through cervical cancer screening efforts. Dr Murallitharan also said many women are willing to spend on spas or beauty treatments but hesitate to invest in health screenings or vaccinations. He said following the success of the 'Leaving No One Behind' HPV vaccination programme last year, NCSM plans to partner with general practitioners to offer 70% subsidies for screenings. 'We are changing our approach. Instead of waiting for patients to come to us, we'll go to them,' he said. Echoing the concern, Malaysian Council for Child Welfare advisor Datuk Dr Raj Abdul Karim said many women do not take their health seriously enough. 'Many women don't realise that silent blood pressure or diabetes affects your health and even cancer can be invisible at times. 'As such, we need more advocacy and programmes for women on this, to emphasise that even if they feel well, they still need to get screening,' she added. She said the HPV vaccine can prevent high-risk strains linked to cervical cancer. 'So we need to accelerate the intake of the vaccine and have access to more screening among women, since cervical cancer is preventable,' she added. Dr Raj also recommended regular Pap smears for women aged 20 to 50, especially those who are sexually active. She said HPV DNA self-sampling could help eliminate cultural taboos and expand access for rural and vulnerable groups. Women's Aid Organisation executive director Nazreen Nizam said the conversation must shift from blaming women to addressing the systemic inequalities that limit access to healthcare. She said despite the introduction of the HPV vaccine in 2019, the lack of consistent and widespread public education has left many women unaware of its importance or how to access it. 'The government must invest in sustained, multilingual and culturally relevant public awareness campaigns, and ensure that screening services and vaccines are free or subsidised for all women, regardless of their citizenship or location. 'One possibility is to introduce age-based automatic subsidies for screenings, integrated into existing public healthcare systems and even GP clinics, so that it becomes part of routine care. 'But access alone isn't enough – the healthcare environment must also be safe, non-judgmental and respectful of women's autonomy and lived realities,' she said. HPV is the leading cause of cervical cancer, and any sexually active person can contract it. In Malaysia, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women aged 15 to 44.
