Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust calls for action in response to announcement of HPV vaccine change

A leading charity is calling for action as today’s news of changes to the UK ’s HPV vaccination programme spotlights the fight against a preventable disease claiming three lives every day.

Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust says the announcement that the NHS will be switching from Cervarix to Gardasil in the next school year provides a vital reminder that the vaccine offered to schoolgirls protects against more than 70% of cervical cancers – but more must be done to boost uptake.

Robert Music, Director of Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, the UK’s only dedicated cervical cancer charity, said: “Both vaccines protect against two strains of HPV strains that cause 70% of cervical cancers and the latest figures show that just over 80% of girls aged 12-13 in England and Wales and around 90% in Scotland and Northern Ireland have had the three doses of HPV vaccine needed to protect them against cervical cancer .”

“It is believed that if year on year take up of the vaccine continues to be around 80%, the incidence of cervical cancer could be reduced by two thirds in women under 30 by 2025. ”

“So uptake is hugely encouraging and something the UK should be proud of but we would like to see every effort made to see this increase further. For example only about 40% of eligible 17-18 year olds in England were vaccinated in 2009-10 as part of the catch up programme.”

“We must remind all girls that they are eligible for vaccination up to 18 years and, crucially, we are calling on all UK countries to ensure it is made as easy as possible for eligible girls to have the vaccine who did not have it initially. ”

“Every three hours in the UK a woman is diagnosed with cervical cancer. I urge everyone who has yet to take part in this potentially life saving vaccination programme to do so.

For more information contact Elizabeth Udall, Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust on 07515 852690 or [email protected]

Notes for Editors
• Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust – (www.jostrust.org.uk) is the UK’s only dedicated charity offering support and information for those affected by cervical cancer and cervical abnormalities. The charity launched a new national helpline on 23 January. Call 0808 802 8000
• Around 3 women in the UK die each day from cervical cancer, with someone diagnosed every 3 hours. Over 300,000 women a year are told they may have a cervical abnormality that could require treatment.___
• The vaccine protects against two strains of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) that cause over 70 per cent of cervical cancers. It has been estimated that immunising girls before they become infected will prevent up to 400 deaths every year in the UK.___
• The HPV vaccination programme is predominantly conducted in schools.
• Three doses of vaccine given over a minimum of six months are required to ensure adequate protection.
• A routine immunisation programme for HPV started on 1 September 2008 for 12-13 year old girls.___
• A phased catch-up of girls aged up to 18 years of age was also implemented in each UK country
• A report commissioned from the Health Protection Agency by the Department of Health and published in January 2011 showed:
- 84.1 per cent of girls in the first routine cohort (now aged 13-14 years) have now had the full course of vaccine;
- 76.4 per cent of girls in the second routine cohort (aged 12-13 years) have so far completed the vaccination course in 2009-10 with final figures expected to be higher
- The earlier than planned introduction of catch up campaigns for girls aged 14-18 in 2009 meant that the NHS was able to begin protecting more girls sooner;
- In total 60.4 per cent of all 12-19 year olds have had the full course; and ___
- These figures are already more than twice as high as figures for similar aged girls in the United States programme.