Life-saving vaccine now being given to boys

Immunisation programme is getting under way in the county

BOYS will now be able to receive the potentially life-saving HPV vaccination in schools across the county.

The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination programme is underway as Leicestershire’s school age immunisations team visits secondary schools in the district to ensure young people receive the protection they need.

Previously, the vaccine was only available to female students in year eight. However, for the first time, the vaccine is being offered to boys of the same age.

There are more than 200 strains of HPV, but the vaccine protects against the four most dangerous of these, which can cause various cancers including cervical cancer, penile and anal cancer and some throat cancers.

The vaccine is administered via a small injection at the top of the arm which only takes a few seconds. Two doses are required to give full protection, and these are offered six months apart.

The vaccination programme targets 12 and 13 year olds in year eight, since as they grow their levels of resistance will also increase.

The school age immunisations service has also introduced an electronic consent form to make the process as easy as possible for schools, young people, parents and carers.

Alongside the HPV vaccine, year eight pupils who, according to their child health record, have not received both doses of the Mumps Measles and Rubella (MMR) vaccine as infants, will be offered further protection against these diseases.

Measles is a highly infectious viral illness that can sometimes result in serious complications, and there have been some outbreaks in the UK and Europe over the last couple of years. As there is no treatment for the disease, vaccination is the only way of preventing it.

Suzanne Leatherland, children’s immunisations lead at LPT, said: “In July 2018, it was announced that the HPV vaccine would be extended to boys. This will help prevent more cases of HPV-related cancers in both boys and girls.

“The vaccination programme is vital in saving lives, and we look forward to working closely with all our schools to ensure we protect as many of our young people as possible. Further information about the HPV and the vaccine is available at www.nhs.uk. ”