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Human Papillomavirus
Find most of the information you need in these resources
Always refer to your local signed PGD's in practice, and remember the Green Book takes priority over the SPmC - and sometimes WHO takes priority over the Green Book! They don't always say the same!
Updates & News
28th July: Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for GBMSM: PGD template updated and the other template has also been updated.
24th June 2025: Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine coverage estimates in England: 2023 to 2024.
Summary of uptake:
HPV coverage for year 8 students was 72.9% for females and 67.7% for males
HPV coverage for year 9 students was 74.1% for females and 68.5% for males
HPV coverage for year 10 students was 76.7% for females and 71.2% for males
HPV coverage in female year 9 students was lowest in London (60.9%) and highest in the South East (79.7%). HPV coverage in male year 9 students was lowest in London (56.5%) and highest in the South East (74.2%). HPV vaccine coverage for female students has consistently decreased from pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels. HPV vaccine coverage for male students has also decreased since the COVID-19 pandemic, however the 2019 to 2020 academic year was the first year that males were eligible for HPV vaccination.
20th June 2025: News story from the UKHSA: Uneven HPV uptake in some areas increases cervical cancer risk
4th March 2025: Forget pancake day - It's HPV awareness day! And this rather sobering news item has appeared: Over a quarter of pupils missing out on HPV vaccine
Jan 2025: Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine coverage estimates in England: 2023 to 2024 released. HPV coverage for year 10 students was 76.7% for females and 71.2% for males. This made me a bit sad :-(
SEPT 2023 A one-dose schedule (previously two) was introduced in September 2023, offered in school year 8 (12 -13 years old).
Two doses are still recommended for MSM aged 25-45. A three-dose schedule is offered to individuals who are immunosuppressed or HIV-positive.
Vaccine update special regarding Sept 23 changes Vaccine update: issue 339, June 2023, HPV special edition - GOV.UK
Other useful links and further reading:
HPV vaccination: guidance for healthcare practitioners - GOV.UK
Challenge: try to read THIS without crying :-( I failed
Gardasil 9 at 10 Years: Vaccine Protects Against Multiple Cancers. An interesting read from a historical perspective
An A3 poster to promote the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme in schools
Bits and bobs to casually drop into conversation
Did you know....
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a family of viruses which cause a range of serious diseases including cervical cancer and mouth cancer.
There are approximately 100 types of HPV. Around 40 types infect the genital tract and are associated with genital warts and various types of cancer in men and women.
Over 99% of cervical cancers are caused by HPV infection.
Before vaccination started in 2009, HPV was the most common sexually transmitted infection in the UK.
A 2021 study in The Lancet has shown that the HPV vaccine has dramatically reduced cervical cancer rates by almost 90% in women in their 20's who were offered it at ages 12 to 13. Their findings show that the vaccines have almost eliminated cervical cancer in women born since Sept 1, 1995. Go HPV vaccines!!!!
It's been 15 years since TV celebrity, Jade Goody, tragically died from cervical cancer. Prior to her death in 2009, Jade was a vocal campaigner for smear tests and did loads to raise awareness. According to (what was the leading cervical cancer charity in the UK) Jo’s Trust (which has sadly gone into insolvency as of May 2024), Jade’s story saw an extra 400,000 women in the UK get their smear test.
