Routine HPV vaccination for girls
Health Secretary Alan Johnson has announced the introduction of a human papilloma virus (HPV) immunisation programme to routinely vaccinate girls aged 12–13 against cervical cancer, starting from September. Cervarix is the product to be used.
The Scottish Government also will fund a similar immunisation programme from September.
Alan Johnson also confirmed that there would be a two-year catch up campaign starting in the autumn of 2009 for girls up to 18 years. The routine programme could cost as much as £100m a year and the catch up programme £200m in 2009/10 and 20010/11, but the Department of Health aims to negotiate a reduction in vaccine price during the procurement process.
The announcement signalled the Health Secretary’s determination to make the NHS a service which prevents ill health and prioritises keeping people well. This means a shift in focus from a sickness service to a wellbeing service – taking action today which may not have immediate effects, but will prevent more serious illness and much bigger costs in years to come.
The highly successful and comprehensive cervical screening programme (smear tests) will continue after the HPV vaccine has been introduced. This is because the vaccine does not protect against all HPV types that may cause cervical cancer.
This decision follows the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) which, based on a detailed review of evidence surrounding HPV vaccination, recommended the routine and catch up vaccinations. It also acknowledged that the evidence suggests that a catch-up programme for all women aged 18-25 years was unlikely to be cost effective, but it could benefit some individual women. The Department of Health will consider this further.
Primary care trusts will plan how to deliver the vaccination programme locally. The JCVI has advised that HPV vaccination would be most efficiently delivered through schools.
Department of Health