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Written question asked by Will Forster (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 26 June 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 30 June 2025. It was answered by Ashley Dalton (Labour) on Thursday, 10 July 2025 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.


Human Papillomavirus: Vaccination

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to meet the World Health Organisation’s vaccination target for the human papillomavirus vaccine.

Answer

In March 2025, NHS England published the Cervical cancer elimination plan by 2040 –for England, which outlines how the National Health Service will improve uptake and coverage across human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and cervical screening. This is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/cervical-cancer-elimination-by-2040-plan-for-england/

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) monitors uptake of HPV vaccination nationally, regionally and by local authority and publishes annual reports at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/vaccine-uptake#hpv-vaccine-uptake

While HPV vaccination uptake rates in England have been very high, vaccine coverage by cohort has been steadily declining since the COVID-19 pandemic. In the 2023 to 2024 academic year, this decline appeared to be stabilising.

NHS-commissioned School Aged Immunisation Service providers have robust catch-up plans in place for the adolescent HPV vaccination programme based on population need, to offer vaccination to those young people who may have missed out at the point of initial offer.

UKHSA works closely with charities and academics to develop resources that can be used to raise awareness of HPV and the importance of vaccination including for boys. NHS England has improved digital communications on vaccinations, including expanding the NHS app, and has improved access to the HPV vaccine outside of schools through community clinics at convenient times and locations.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
63266
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Vaccination Human papillomavirus World Health Organization
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk