HPV vaccine could prevent over 100,000 cancers

09 July 2019

On Tuesday 9th July, Public Health England issued the press release below stating that estimates suggest that the HPV vaccine programme will lead to the prevention of over 64,000 cervical cancers and nearly 50,000 non-cervical cancers by 2058.

From September this year, boys in school year 8 will be offered the free Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine for the first time.

Worldwide, about 5% of all cancers are linked to the HPV virus. This includes cervical, penile, anal and genital cancers and some cancers of the head and neck – all of which the vaccine helps to protect against. Cervical cancer is currently the most common cancer in women under 35, killing around 850 women each year. HPV is thought to be responsible for over 99% of cervical cancers, as well as 90% of anal, about 70% of vaginal and vulvar cancers and more than 60% of penile cancers.

ENT UK welcomes the decision to vaccinate boys aged 12-13  against the HPV virus in England. As part of HPV Action (HPVA), a collaborative partnership of patient and professional organisations, we have lobbied the government to extend the vaccination programme to include boys.

We are pleased that the government has heeded our advice but also disappointed that this comes 11 years after the HPV vaccine was first offered to teenage girls in the UK.

We are also disappointed that the government is refusing to implement a catch up programme for older boys, but will continue to support HPV Action in their endeavours to persuade the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to do this.

We are hopeful that a new generation will not grow up under the shadow of developing cancers caused by the HPV virus. 

Read the full Public Health England Press Release here.