Five north London borough councils, led by Haringey and Barnet and funded by the North Central London (NCL) Cancer Alliance, have launched a vaccination campaign encouraging Year 8 students to protect themselves from HPV (human papillomavirus). Health staff, young people and educators all worked together to create the materials, to raise awareness of the effectiveness of the vaccine and overcome barriers and misconceptions.
HPV is a common virus that can affect anyone and can lead to six different types of cancer. It is symptom free, and most people don’t even know they have HPV for many years. New educational videos form part of the campaign to help reduce hesitancies about the vaccine and outline how it can help prevent many types of cancer.
The best way to get protected from HPV is by having the vaccine. Since it was first introduced in 2006, more than 280 million doses have been given worldwide and rates of cervical cancer have dropped by 90%. It’s important for people to have the vaccine at a young age, before any sexual experience that may expose them to the virus.
However, since the Covid-19 pandemic, HPV vaccine uptake reduced significantly and has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels, putting a large proportion of young people at risk.
Ali Malik, Managing Director of the NCL Cancer Alliance, said: “Preventing future cancers is hugely important to us and a key part of our strategic plan, both to improve public health and manage capacity in our health services. The HPV campaign demonstrates the value of working together to protect young people in north central London from HPV and associated cancers”.
Councillor Lucia das Neves, Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care & Wellbeing, Haringey Council said: “We will be working hard to raise the vaccination rate in our borough (Haringey), so that we can prevent many thousands of cases of cancers later in life”.
The HPV vaccine is now offered as a single dose. Health experts want to reassure parents that having the vaccine does not encourage young people to engage in sexual activity. It is a step towards sexual education, safe sex and a form of protection for the future when they become sexually active.
Through the summer term, school vaccination teams will be offering the vaccine to all Year 8s (12 & 13 year olds) in school, and to children in older year groups who have missed out. If a child misses their HPV vaccine at school, it’s not too late. Anyone aged 16 and under who misses the vaccine at school can get it at a catch-up clinic. For anyone age 17-25, they can check with their GP if they are offering the HPV vaccine.
To learn more about HPV, sign the online consent form or find a catch-up clinic, visit: www.schoolvaccination.uk/hpv-vaccine