Children will be given a single jab of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination instead of two doses.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said the change in England follows advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and World Health Organisation scientists.
It added that a single dose “delivers robust protection” against HPV when compared with the two doses given at present.
The HPV vaccine programme is offered to children in school at the age of 12 to 13 and is used to prevent a range of cancers.
These causes include cervical cancer, cancers of the head and neck (mouth and throat), and cancers of the anus and genital areas.
It has been announced that the move to a single dose will start in September.
According to figures from 2021-2011, some 82.2% of girls has one dose of the vaccine by the time they were in year 9 – the uptake is believed to have been affected by COVID-19.
What is the new plan?
Under the new plan, children will be offered a single dose.
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The vaccine will also be moved to a single dose for those who are gay, bisexual and other men under the age of 25 years old who are sexually active with men.
People over the age of 25 to 45 will stay on a two-dose vaccine system.
And those who are immunosuppressed or HIV-positive will still have three doses to ensure protection.
“Based on the evidence, other countries, such as Australia and Scotland, have already made the move to one dose,” The UKHSA has said.
Dr Vanessa Saliba, an immunisation consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA, said: “The HPV vaccination programme is one of the most successful in the world and has dramatically lowered the rates of cervical cancer and harmful infections in both women and men – preventing many cancers and saving lives.
“The latest evidence shows that one dose provides protection as robust as two doses. This is excellent news for young people.
“If you missed your HPV vaccine, it is vital you get protected. Contact your school nurse, school immunisation team or GP practice to arrange an appointment – you remain eligible to receive the vaccine until your 25th birthday.”
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Some of the signs of HPV, and how to protect yourself from it
According to the NHS, HPV does not usually cause any symptoms and most people who have it do not realise it.
However, sometimes the virus can cause painless growths or lumps around the genital area.
• Use protection during sexual intercourse. Condoms can help protect you against HPV but do not cover all the skin around the area, so you may not be fully protected.
• Get vaccinated – the HPV vaccine can help protect against this.
A study published in The Lancet medical journal in 2021 found that cervical cancer rates were 87% lower in young women who were eligible for HPV vaccination when they were aged 12 to 13, compared with young women who had not been offered the vaccine.
Overall, the study estimated that the HPV programme had prevented about 450 cancers and 17,200 pre-cancers up to mid-2019.
