Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase the uptake of HPV vaccinations for (a) girls and (b) boys.

NHS Commissioned School Aged Immunisation Service providers have robust catch-up plans in place for the adolescent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme. This is based on population need, and utilises opportunities from the move to one dose in September 2023. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) works closely with several charities to develop resources to raise awareness of HPV. The UKHSA also publishes annual statistics, which are available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/human-papillomavirus-hpv-vaccine-coverage-estimates-in-england-2022-to-2023/human-papillomavirus-hpv-vaccination-coverage-in-adolescents-in-england-2022-to-2023

These support local National Health Service teams in developing plans to improve uptake and reduce inequalities for the HPV universal programme. NHS England has improved digital communications on vaccinations, including expanding the NHS app, and has improved access to the vaccine outside of schools, through community clinics at convenient times and locations. The UKHSA produces a number of HPV resources, which are available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hpv-vaccination-programme.

Materials are also available on the UKHSA Health Publications website in a range of languages and accessible formats, at the following link:

https://www.healthpublications.gov.uk/Home.html