{"id":13492,"date":"2025-07-21T17:51:10","date_gmt":"2025-07-21T17:51:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/13492\/"},"modified":"2025-07-21T17:51:10","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T17:51:10","slug":"hundreds-of-thousands-of-young-people-urged-to-have-vaccine-that-protects-against-cancer-linked-to-oral-sex","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/13492\/","title":{"rendered":"Hundreds of thousands of young people urged to have vaccine that protects against cancer linked to oral sex"},"content":{"rendered":"

Health chiefs are urging the 418,000 under-25s who left school without receiving a life-saving cancer<\/a> vaccine to come forward for the jab.<\/p>\n

The HPV<\/a> vaccine, routinely offered to children aged 12 to 13 in Year 8, protects against human papillomavirus\u2014a common infection linked to several cancers.<\/p>\n

Around 80 per cent of the population will be exposed to HPV at some point, usually through sexual contact.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Children are targeted for vaccination before they have been exposed\u2014with the aim of providing protection through into adulthood.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In most cases the virus is harmless, but in some cases it can trigger changes in DNA that lead to cervical cancer, and cancers of the penis and anus.<\/p>\n

When someone performs oral sex on a partner with HPV, the virus can infect cells in the mouth and throat.<\/p>\n

The vaccine, which is proven in studies to be highly effective, prevents this from happening.<\/p>\n

Now, GP practices across England will invite patients aged 16 to 25 to get vaccinated via letters, emails, texts and the NHS<\/a> App.<\/p>\n

\"Just <\/p>\n

Just 67.2 per cent of girls were fully vaccinated in 2021\/22, down from a high of 86.7 per cent in 2013\/14<\/p>\n

Experts have previously warned that low uptake of the HPV vaccine is putting children at risk of developing cancer later in life.<\/p>\n

They believe this may be partly due to a misconception that the jab is only relevant to sexually transmitted infections\u2014and therefore not necessary for children.<\/p>\n

In the 2023\/24 academic year, 76.7 per cent of girls and 71.2 per cent of boys had received the vaccine by Year 10.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Uptake in Year 8\u2014when the jab is first offered\u2014also rose slightly on the previous year, by 1.6 percentage points in girls and 2.5 in boys.<\/p>\n

The new push is part of the NHS’s goal to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040, by increasing vaccine coverage and boosting cervical screening rates.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It aims to raise uptake among girls to 90 per cent by the same date.<\/p>\n

Dr Amanda Doyle, NHS England’s national director of primary care, said: ‘This vaccine is vital to our efforts to eradicate cervical cancer in girls and women \u2013 but it’s just as important for boys, too.<\/p>\n

‘So if you’re eligible for a HPV vaccination or are the parent of a child who is eligible, but didn’t get the vaccine at school when they had the chance, I would urge you to come forward when your GP contacts you.’\u00a0<\/p>\n

Your browser does not support iframes.<\/p>\n

Dr Sharif Ismail, a consultant epidemiologist at the UK Health Security Agency said: ‘We know that uptake of the HPV vaccination in young people has fallen significantly since the pandemic.’\u00a0<\/p>\n

This he warned has left ‘many many thousands across the country’ at greater risk of HPV-related cancers.<\/p>\n

‘This is a real concern as each HPV vaccine, now just a single dose offered in schools, gives a young person good protection against the devastating impact of these cancers,’ Dr Ismail added.<\/p>\n

‘We’re calling on all parents to return their children’s HPV vaccination consent forms promptly.\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘This simple action could protect your child from developing cancer in the future.’<\/p>\n

He also urged young adults up to the age of 25, who didn’t get the jab to speak to their GP about catch-up options, because ‘it’s never too late to get protected.’<\/p>\n

Public Health and Prevention Minister, Ashley Dalton, added: ‘If you’ve missed your vaccination at school. It isn’t too late.\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘Don’t hesitate to make an appointment with your GP. One jab could save your life.’<\/p>\n

The vaccine can also be given to those up to age 45 with immune-compromised conditions and men who have sex with other men.<\/p>\n

Previously children were required to get two vaccinations, but as of September 2023 they only need one new jab.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The latest HPV vaccine, first introduced in England in 2021, is proven to be more effective.<\/p>\n

In the long term the jab is predicted to reduce cases of women’s cancer by 16 per cent and HPV attributable deaths by nine per cent more than the previous type.<\/p>\n

Importantly, studies in England have shown that the HPV vaccine stops 90 per cent of cervical cancer cases.<\/p>\n

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