The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination given in schools – which is helping to virtually eliminate cervical cancer – will move to a single dose from September, it has been announced.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said the change in England follows advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and World Health Organisation scientists that a single dose “delivers robust protection” against HPV when compared with the two doses given at present. The HPV vaccine programme is offered to all children in school Year 8, when they are aged 12 to 13.
Latest figures show that, in 2021-2022, some 82.2% of girls had had one dose by the time they were in Year 9. Uptake is believed to have been affected by the coronavirus >Covid pandemic.
