Millions of boys to be denied HPV vaccine provided to girls

 Up to two million boys will miss out on HPV vaccinations after ministers decided against carrying out a catch-up programme, it was reported yesterday.

In July, the Department of Health and Social Care said it would extend the roll-out of the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine, which can protect against diseases such as oral, throat and anal cancers, to boys aged 12 and 13.

The vaccine has been provided to girls aged 11 to 13 since 2008, with a catch- up programme for girls up to the age of 18 who had missed the immunisation.

According to The Guardian, Steve Brine, the public health minister, has written to Sharon Hodgson, the shadow minister, to confirm that there will be no catch-up programme for boys.

Ms Hodgson said: “This means that there will be yet another cohort of boys who have failed to be protected from the HPV virus, which can cause cancers and genital warts.”