The vaccination for human papillomavirus (HPV) is made available to schoolchildren between the ages of 12-15, but vaccine rates have plummeted in recent years due to school closures and absences due to Covid-19.
Despite a post-pandemic catch-up programme leading to almost 600,000 Year 10 pupils receiving the jab, uptake amongst Year 8 and 9 children remains significantly below pre-covid levels.
HPV is linked to five per cent of all cancers and is a leading cause of mouth cancer and cervical cancer.
The virus is transmitted through sexual activity and is extremely common. Four in five (80 per cent) unvaccinated adults will pick it up at some point in their life. For most people, HPV causes no symptoms, and they will be unaware they have it. However, in some people, HPV develops into cancer. It can also cause genital warts.
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