Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what international comparisons his Department is drawing on to inform implementation of a gender-neutral HPV vaccination programme.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the expert committee that advises Ministers on immunisation related issues, is currently considering whether a human papillomavirus vaccination programme for boys, in addition to that in place for girls, would be cost-effective.

The JCVI considers evidence from a range of sources including published data and experiences in other countries.

It is important to note that other epidemiological circumstances and situations in other countries may differ and may therefore not transfer to the United Kingdom. The advice of the JCVI is made with reference to the UK immunisation programme.