healthscotland.com

The 2010 Scottish uptake rates for the HPV vaccine (external website) are now available.

Provisional figures at mid-February 2010 show that overall uptake of the HPV vaccine among girls in second, fifth and sixth year of secondary school in Scotland is 89.8% for the first dose and 81.9% for the second dose.

This years programme will be launched September 2010, the HPV Immunisation Programme intends to protect girls by routinely immunising them at around 12-13 years of age, with the aim of preventing them from developing cervical cancer later in life.

www.fightcervicalcancer.org.uk provides answers to questions about cervical cancer and the HPV vaccine, as well as links to sites where you can find out more.

The vaccine is designed to protect against the two types of HPV that can cause 70% of the cases of cervical cancer. It does not protect against all other types, so regular cervical screening is important.

A catch-up campaign for older girls is being carried out over a three-year period and this began in September 2008. This measure will potentially protect 120,000 more teenage girls than had originally been anticipated.

This dedicated page contains links to materials produced to help health profeesionals deliver the HPV Immunisation Programme. HPV Professional Information. Also available are references and links to research and further information.

The Patient Group Direction (30 June 2010) has been developed by the national HPV Service Delivery Group to assist NHS boards and should be adapted in line with local clinical governance arrangements.

The Cervarix Patient Information Leaflet (external website) is contained in the box with the vaccine and should be given to girls when they receive their vaccine.

Page updated: 23 August 2010