Promising Outlook For National UK HPV Vaccination

This autumn, reports a recent article published on bmj,
a
??100m national UK vaccination program for the human papillomavirus
(HPV) is expected to vaccinate 70% of girls. Two types of HPV
-
both transmitted through sex and linked to cervical cancer - are
prevented by the vaccine. Vaccinations will begin in September 2008 for
all schoolgirls in the UK who are in Year 8, between 12 and 13 years
old.



Researchers from the University of Manchester conducted a pilot study
designed to investigate whether the immunization program will be a
success based on the how parents will accept the vaccine. They also
sought to analyze the feasibility of such a program to vaccinate
adolescent girls. In February 2007, two Primary Care Trusts (PCTs)
participated in the study and were charged with making sure girls in
all secondary schools in their areas received the vaccine.



There were 2,817 schoolgirls of the target age in 36 secondary
schools that were offered the HPV vaccine. Information was adequately
disseminated to parents, and they had to consent to the vaccination.
Parents were also asked to provide reasons if they refused the
vaccination for their daughter.



Although three doses are required at 0, 1, and 6 months in order
for the vaccine to be fully effective, the researchers were able to
report the number and percentage of girls who received the first dose
(1,989 or 70.6%) and the second dose (1,930 or 68.5%). Delivery of the
vaccinations proved challenging for many reasons. Schools were very
busy at the beginning of the academic year when the first doses needed
to be administered, and 16.3% of girls missed the appointment time for
the first dose and 23.6% missed the second dose.



Of parents who refused to allow the vaccination, 36% claimed that they
did not have sufficient information about the long term safety of the
vaccine, 10% were concerned about the age of the girls, and 3% were
concerned that the vaccination would influence adolescent sexual
behavior.



"These are encouraging results for the
forthcoming national HPV vaccine programme but the final criterion for
success will be the proportion of girls who receive all three vaccine
doses," conclude the researchers.



An accompanying editorial, Jo Waller and Jane Wardle (Cancer
Research UK), suggest that, "In the wake of the controversy about the
measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR)
vaccine, work needs to be done to restore public confidence in
immunisation." Since 20% of parents in the study refused
the vaccine without reason, "More
work is therefore needed to understand the motives for refusal and the
practical barriers to providing consent."



Uptake of first two doses of human papillomavirus vaccine by
adolescent schoolgirls in Manchester: prospective cohort study

Loretta Brabin, Stephen A Roberts, Rebecca Stretch, David Baxter,
Gloria Chambers, Henry Kitchener, Rosemary McCann

BMJ. (April 2008)

doi:10.1136/bmj.39541.534109.BE

Click
Here to See Article Online



: Peter M Crosta