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Concerns have been raised by doctors regarding a decrease in the number of young individuals receiving the HPV vaccine, which protects against an infection that can lead to cervical cancer. The vaccine, administered to 12 and 13-year-old school pupils, helps prevent the spread of Human papillomaviruses. Since its initiation in 2008, the vaccine programme has been highly successful, with no cases of cervical cancer found in fully vaccinated women.
Despite the success of the programme, Public Health Scotland has expressed worries about a 20% lower uptake of the vaccine in Scotland’s most deprived communities compared to more affluent areas. HPV, a group of viruses transmitted through sexual contact, can lead to various serious health issues if left untreated. The vaccination programme began offering immunisation to girls in their first year of secondary school in 2008, with no cases of cervical cancer detected in fully vaccinated women since then. The programme was expanded to include boys in 2019 as they can also develop various cancers due to the infection.
Dr. Claire Cameron, a health protection consultant at PHS, highlighted a gradual decline in vaccine uptake over the past decade, with inequalities worsening since the onset of the Covid pandemic. She emphasized the need for universal vaccination to ensure protection for everyone. Recent data from PHS indicates an average HPV vaccination coverage of 71.5% among S1 pupils last year, with girls showing higher vaccination rates than boys. In the least deprived areas, the vaccine rate in S1 rose to 82.1%, while dropping to 59.9% in the most deprived communities.
Researchers from Edinburgh University’s Bioquarter have been conducting workshops in local schools to educate students about the benefits of HPV immunisation. Dom Cairns-Gibson, leading one of these workshops at Castlebrae High School, noted an increase in vaccine confidence among students and a lack of knowledge about HPV. Through partnerships with schools and the provision of accurate information by trusted individuals, there has been a positive response in improving vaccine uptake rates in some areas. Students are encouraged to ask questions, engage in discussions about vaccines, and understand the importance of immunisation in protecting the community from HPV-related illnesses
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