The UK government has announced plans to provide girls in England aged 12 and 13 with a vaccine that protects against the strains of human papilloma virus (HPV) most associated with cancerous and pre-cancerous cell changes in the cervix. The vaccinations will be provided from September 2008.
Government plans also include a two year catch-up campaign starting in the autumn of 2009 that will seek to vaccinate girls up to the age of 18.
Two HPV vaccines have been developed, Gardasil and Cervarix, and have been shown to provide complete protection against the strains of HPV (16 and 18) most associated with cervical cancer in girls and young women who have not yet been exposed to them. Much lower levels of efficacy were seen in women already infected with HPV, and the vaccines have no therapeutic value.
In June an independent panel of experts, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, recommended that the UK government provide HPV vaccination to girls in England aged 12 and 13. The vaccine will have the most effect in adolescent girls who are not yet sexually experienced and have not been exposed to HPV.
There are no plans to vaccinate adolescent boys or to extend vaccination programmes to groups of adults, such as gay men, who have a high prevalence of HPV infection, due to lack of evidence about the efficacy and safety of the vaccine in these groups.
Anal and cervical cancers, caused by HPV, occur more frequently in HIV-positive individuals. Studies are currently underway to determine the safety and efficacy of HPV vaccination in boys, adult men and HIV-positive patients.
It’s not yet been decided whether Gardasil or Cervarix will be used in the English vaccination programme.
HPV vaccination schemes are already planned for Scotland and Wales.