The NHS in the South West is urging people yet to have the lifesaving human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to get protected against cervical and other cancers as part of a push to eliminate cervical cancer in the region.

GP practices across the South West and across England will send invites via letters, emails, texts and the NHS App to patients aged 16-25 whose records show they did not get their HPV vaccination in school.

The vaccine is routinely offered each year to boys and girls in year 8 (aged 12-13) to help protect them against catching the HPV infection which causes nearly all cervical cancers, and is linked to cancers of the mouth, throat, anus, penis and vagina. If anyone misses the jab, NHS teams also carry out school catch-up visits and host community clinics for home-schooled children.

In the 2023/24 academic year, 77.9% of girls and 72.8% of boys aged 14-15 in the South West were vaccinated by year 10. However, there are believed to be many people now aged 16-25 who were not jabbed at school. As such, GPs will be contacting those who have not got an HPV vaccination on their records in a bid to reach as many of these people as possible, under plans to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040 as set out in the recently-published 10 Year Health Plan.

The NHS in the South West also recently detailed it’s plans to eliminate cervical cancer, outlining three goals to achieve over the next 5 years:

1. Increase HPV vaccination rates to at least 90% for boys and girls
2. Halt the decline in cervical screening rates and increase the screening rate to at least 70% in the 25-49 cohort
3. Ensure at least 90% of women diagnosed with cervical disease receive treatment

Dr Matthew Dominey, Consultant in Public Health and Screening and Immunisation Lead for NHS England South West said: “It is vital that anyone who is eligible for this vaccine, girls, women, boys and men, comes forward to protect themselves.

“While the HPV vaccine is important as we aim to eliminate cervical cancer, it also helps protect against cancers of the mouth, throat or genitals, while preventing the spread of the HPV infection to sexual partners as well.

“If you are eligible and have not had your HPV vaccine, or if you are the parent of a child who is eligible but has not received their HPV vaccine, I urge you to take up the opportunity for this life-saving vaccine when your GP contacts you.”

Dr Alasdair Wood, Consultant in Health Protection and Vaccine Preventable Disease Lead at UKHSA South West 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.

“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. 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.”

The vaccine can also be given to those up to age 45 with immune-compromised conditions and men who have sex with other men.

Studies in England have shown that the HPV vaccine stops 90% of cervical cancer cases and the latest HPV vaccine, introduced in England in 2021, is proven to be even 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 to the previous type.

Last month the NHS rolled-out digital invitations and reminders for cervical screening via the NHS App, as part of a new ‘ping and book’ service. More information on this and the cervical cancer elimination strategy can be found on the NHS South West website.