Call to vaccinate your children against cancers
Health chiefs are urging parents to allow their children to be given the HPV vaccine in schools to protect them against several forms of cancer.
The call from the Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) has gone out on HPV Awareness Day (March 4) as uptake of the vaccine in the county is still well below the pre-Covid levels of 90 per cent.
The HPV (human papillomavirus) is offered to all Year 8 pupils (aged 12 -13), but the most recent uptake rates for the 2024 to 2025 academic year show that uptake among Year 8 girls was 67.6% (3.7% lower than the previous year) and 60.3% for Year 8 boys (4.8% lower than the previous year).
It helps protect against cancers, including cervical, head and neck, and anal and genital cancers, which can affect both boys and girls. The vaccine has reduced the rates of cervical cancer in women in their 20s by 90 per cent after they were given the jab aged 12-13.
“The HPV vaccine is not new. Since 2008, over 10 million doses have been administered in the UK, and over 18 million people worldwide have received this vaccine. The HPV vaccine is 99% effective. It has already reduced rates of cervical cancer by 90% in women in their 20s who were offered it at ages 12 and 13 years,” explains Dr Sunil Hindocha, ICB Medical Director.
“It is given to Year 8 children in school by our School Age Immunisation Service (SAIS), which will be visiting secondary schools between April and July. However, parents and guardians need to provide their consent for their child to be vaccinated and should have received a digital consent letter from school.
“Given what the HPV vaccine provides protection against, I strongly encourage all parents and guardians to provide their consent as soon as possible, to ensure your child can receive the vaccination in school and to help reduce their risk of certain cancers in the future,” adds Dr Hindocha.
Any parents or guardians who, for any reason, have not received this letter can complete it online.
See the video for more information.
