HPV vaccine recommended for NHS immunisation programme

The Department of Health has announced that a human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination has been recommended for inclusion in the immunisation programme of the NHS.

Under proposals announced today, all girls aged between 12 and 13 will be offered the vaccination against certain forms of cervical cancer, with the scheme to begin in September 2008 and expected to cost up to 100 million pounds.

Additionally, older girls up to the age of 18 will be offered the vaccine as part of a catch-up programme running in 2009-10 and 2010-11 and forecast to cost in the region of 200 million pounds, while the department has said that it will aim to seek discounts in the procurement of the vaccine.

Alan Johnson, health secretary, 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 prevents ill health and prioritises keeping people well. This means a shift in focus from a sickness service to a wellbeing service.”

He added that the vaccination will prevent many women from catching the HPV, with the potential of saving approximately 400 lives in the UK every year.

Last month, an article written by Professor Mark Schiffman of the US National Cancer Institute published in the Lancet claimed that newly-developed treatments, including vaccinations, will result in a reduction of cervical cancer worldwide.