HPV Vaccine Recommended For NHS Immunization Program

Written by Vaccine Rx Staff

Friday, 26 September 2008

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In HPV vaccine news, British Health Secretary Alan Johnson today announced the introduction of a human papilloma virus (HPV) immunization program to routinely vaccinate girls aged 12 - 13 years of age against cervical cancer, starting from September 2008. The Health Secretary also confirmed that there would be a two-year catch up campaign starting in Autumn 2009, for girls up to 18 years. The routine program could cost up to £100m a year and the catch up program could cost up to £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 signaled the Health Secretary's determination to make the NHS a service which prevents ill health and prioritizes keeping people well. This means a shift in focus from a sickness service to a well being service - taking action today which may not have immediate effects but will prevent more serious illness and much bigger costs in years to come. This fresh focus for the NHS will be outlined in more detail by the Prime Minister and the Health Secretary over the coming months.
Alan Johnson said:
"As a society we need to do more to prevent disease and not just treat it. Now more than ever before we need to make the NHS a service that events ill health and prioritises keeping people well. This means a shift in focus from a sickness service to a wellbeing service.
"Prevention is always better than cure and this vaccine will prevent many women from catching the human papilloma virus in the first place, potentially saving around 400 hundred lives a year."

The highly successful and comprehensive cervical screening program (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 vaccination of girls aged around 12 - 13 years;
Recommended a catch-up program of girls under the age of 18 years, and
Acknowledged that the evidence that a catch-up program for all women aged 18 - 25 years was unlikely to be cost effective but could benefit some individual women. The Department of Health will consider this further.

Primary Care Trusts will plan how to deliver the vaccination program locally. ICVI have advised that HPV vaccination would be most efficiently delivered through schools.

Director of Immunization Professor David Salisbury says;
"The benefits of introducing this vaccine into the national immunisation program will be felt by women and their families for generations to come. The vaccine protects against the viruses that cause about 70% of cervical cancers.
"We will work closely with PCTs to ensure the success of this ambitious program that combines routine and catch-up immunization and we will consult with all groups who may play a part".

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