Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to commit to achieving 90 per cent HPV vaccination coverage by 2030 as set out in the World Health Organisation’s Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer.

NHS England and NHS Improvement are working closely with Public Health England and the Department to drive improvements in immunisation uptake and coverage in all routine childhood immunisations. The Department intends to publish a vaccination strategy in the near future to maintain and develop the United Kingdom’s immunisation programme.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is routinely administered in schools, with a target of 90% coverage for 13 to 14 year old females. Where full HPV coverage has not been attained in schools, HPV vaccination can be administered in general practice up to the age of 25 to support high levels of population coverage. A review of vaccination and immunisations in 2019 has led to reformed general practice contractual arrangements to support the delivery of vaccination activity to increase coverage. In addition, all practices are required to have a named vaccination lead, to support maximisation of uptake.