Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the UK Health Security Agency publication entitled Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine coverage estimates in England: 2021 to 2022, published on 20 December 2022, what steps his Department is taking to increase HPV vaccine rates to the levels achieved prior to the covid-19 pandemic.

To allow for ease of access, the human papillomavirus (HPV) programme is primarily delivered in England through schools, with alternative provision for those not in mainstream education and catch-up programmes offered through general practitioner (GP) practices for both girls and boys who are eligible but missed their initial offer. Regional NHS teams also host catch up clinics in schools and in local venues in areas with low uptake.

NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency deliver annual communication campaigns to promote the HPV vaccine via general practitioners and universities, emphasising the benefits of the HPV vaccine for both boys and girls.

It is vitally important that everyone takes up the vaccinations to which they are entitled; for themselves, their families, and wider society. Anyone unsure about their eligibility or vaccination status should contact their GP for advice.