The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is strongly encouraging young people to receive the HPV vaccine when it's offered in schools.
Although the latest figures indicate a stabilisation in uptake, particularly among Year 8 students, HPV vaccination rates remain significantly below pre-pandemic levels of around 90%.
The data for the 2023 to 2024 academic year, following the transition from two doses to one dose in the routine adolescent HPV programme in September 2023, are as follows:
- Year 8 Females: 72.9% uptake (1.6% increase from the previous year)
- Year 8 Males: 67.7% uptake (2.5% increase from the previous year)
- Year 9 Females: 74.1% uptake (1.6% decrease from the previous year)
- Year 9 Males: 68.5% uptake (1.2% decrease from the previous year)
- Year 10 Females: 76.7% uptake (6.5% decrease from the previous year)
- Year 10 Males: 71.2% uptake (7.4% decrease from the previous year)
These figures also highlight the impact of catch-up efforts for HPV vaccination post-COVID-19 pandemic. For example, HPV coverage for female Year 9 students was 2.8% higher than the previous academic year when the same cohort was in Year 8. Similarly, uptake for male Year 9 students was 3.3% higher than in 2022 to 2023.
Consultant Epidemiologist at the UKHSA, Dr Sharif Ismail, said:
“The HPV vaccine is one of the most successful in the world, now given as just a single dose helping to prevent HPV related cancers from developing in boys and girls.
“It’s great to see HPV uptake rates increasing for when children are first offered the vaccine in year 8, but we need to ensure that more young people who do not take up the original offer for any reason are caught up. Good progress was made to catch up older children immediately after the pandemic and we need to ensure these efforts are sustained. Our overall uptake rates are still behind on pre-pandemic years.
“We urge young people to take up this potentially life-saving vaccine when offered. Look out for the invitation from your school and if you missed your HPV vaccine, you can contact your GP practice to arrange an appointment - you remain eligible to receive the vaccine until your 25th birthday.”
The NHS HPV vaccination programme in England has dramatically reduced HPV infections and cervical cancer rates among vaccine-eligible women, particularly those vaccinated at younger ages. Additionally, the HPV vaccine offers protection against genital warts and other cancers affecting the genital areas, anus, and even some head and neck cancers.
Since September 2008, the HPV vaccine has been available to all girls in Year 8. From September 2019, the vaccine has also been offered to Year 8 boys, recognising its benefits in protecting both genders from HPV-related cancers.
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