Human Papilloma Virus: Vaccination

Mr. Drew
To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason the human papilloma virus vaccination campaign cut-off date was set in order to target those born before September 1990.

Dawn Primarolo
The ages of girls and young women eligible for human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in the national health service vaccination programme are in accordance with the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The JCVI recommended a routine HPV vaccination programme for girls aged 12 to 13 years and a time-limited ‘catch up’ vaccination of girls aged 13 to under 18 years. The programme started in September 2008. The NHS is providing HPV vaccination to the first ‘catch-up’ cohort of young women aged 17 to 18, with birth dates between 1 September 1990 and 31 August 1991.

The JCVI statement on ‘Human papillomavirus vaccines to protect against cervical cancer’ is published at

www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/jcvi

A copy has been placed in the Library.

Mr. Drew
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on (a) vaccinating students from overseas in all schools in England against the human papilloma virus and (b) requiring contributions from such students towards the cost of such vaccinations.

Dawn Primarolo
Primary care trusts (PCTs) are obliged by directions to offer the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine free of charge to all girls aged 12 to 13 years who are registered with a general practitioner (GP) or resident in their area, including any such girls from overseas. Girls and young women of other eligible ages up to 18 years old, including female students from overseas, who are registered patients of a GP are also entitled to receive HPV vaccine free of charge. PCTs are responsible for delivering the HPV programme in their area.