Immunisation against human papilloma virus in a primary care trust: a report on the first three months of the national campaign

Abstract

Human papilloma virus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection that can cause genital warts and is the leading cause of cervical cancer; it is also linked to other forms of genital and oral cancers. Although cervical screening has proved to be an effective tool in reducing deaths from cervical cancer, more than 2,000 new cases were diagnosed in England in 2005. Worldwide, cervical cancer is the second most common type of cancer in women. The use of condoms and other safe sexual practices can help to reduce the risk of transmitting HPV but are not completely effective. Vaccines are now available which provide protection against two important high risk strains of HPV, which account for almost 75% of all cervical cancers caused by HPV. In 2008 the Department of Health added vaccination against HPV to the routine childhood immunisation programme and it is estimated this will save up to 400 lives a year. This paper describes the planning, implementation and preliminary results of an HPV immunisation campaign in an English primary care trust.