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HPV Action Update

05 November 2018

Disappointment at decision over vaccination proposals

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has decided not to introduce the HPV catch-up programme for boys aged 13-16. The chief reason given is the indirect protection afforded older boys by the original 2008 programmes for girls aged 12-18, which have reduced the spread of the virus. In the face of a perceived risk that additional pressure on health services would disrupt the implementation of vaccination for 12-13 year-old boys, DHSC has deemed this indirect protection for older boys sufficient.

This is disappointing news for HPV Action, and we will continue to urge that the decision be reconsidered. To this end we are undertaking the following actions:

  • Drafting a letter from Sharon Hodgson MP, the Shadow Minister for Public Health, to Steve Brine MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Public Health and Primary Care.
  • Preparing a separate letter for Steve Brine, signed by a range of clinical experts.
  • Seeking a meeting with the Department of Health and Social Care, Public Health England and NHS England boys’ vaccination implementation group – this will hopefully take place in January.
  • Exploring the possibility of media interest, especially from the Mail on Sunday, which has followed the campaign closely.
     

In Northern Ireland, meanwhile, no decision has yet been reached on boys’ vaccination. We have sent letters to the Chief Medical Officer, the Director of the Public Health Agency and the Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health in Northern Ireland. There have also been discussions with sympathetic MPs and MLAs. It is hoped that the current deliberations in the Republic of Ireland over this issue may increase pressure in Northern Ireland to make progress.

In England, the Terrence Higgins Trust has alerted HPV Action to concerning delays in implementation of the MSM vaccination programme. Research has shown that of 230 HIV and sexual health clinics nationally, only around 75 are offering the programme. NHS England anticipates that the rollout will be complete by April 2019, but it is unlikely that this will be achieved without external pressure.

The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) has presented David Baker with an award for Outstanding Contribution to Championing the Public’s Health, in recognition of his work on HPV. Congratulations to David, who states that ‘the award clearly reflects the significance of our collective achievement’.

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