Page last updated: 26-MAR-2009

Immunisations (HPV)

ONS kitemarkStatistical Publication Notice

26 March 2009

Provisional Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Vaccination Uptake Rates .

INTRODUCTION

The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine is designed to protect against the two types of HPV that cause around 70% of the cases of cervical cancer. Girls need three doses over a period of six months to give them the best protection.  The HPV vaccine does not protect against all cervical cancers, so regular cervical screening is important. 
 
The HPV Vaccination Programme in Scotland started on 1 September 2008.  The programme aims to protect girls by routinely immunising them at around 12-13 years of age, in second year of secondary school, through a school-based programme.
 
A catch-up campaign for older girls is being carried out over a two to three-year period from September 2008 and applies to girls who were aged 13 to 17 on 1 September 2008.  In the first year of the programme, girls in the catch up cohort who are in fifth and sixth year of secondary school, and girls of equivalent age who have left school, are being offered the vaccine.  Girls currently in third and fourth year of secondary education will be offered HPV immunisation starting in September 2009.
 
This release presents the first provisional statistics on uptake of the first and second doses of HPV vaccine, by mid-February 2009, for girls in second, fifth and sixth year of secondary school in school year 2008/09.  Uptake rates are likely to increase for the second dose in particular as some girls may have missed the early HPV vaccinations sessions in school and have therefore started their course of HPV vaccinations later in the school year.  Final uptake rates for girls in school immunised during the first year of the programme will be published after the end of school year 2008/09.
 
All NHS Boards have also begun offering immunisation to older girls in the catch up cohort who have left school.  The majority of NHS Boards started this part of the catch up programme in January 2009.  This is partly being arranged through community clinics and partly through some GP practices who are involved in the programme. Uptake rates for these girls who have left school will not be available until later this year.

KEY POINTS

  • Provisional figures at mid-February 2009 show that overall uptake of the HPV vaccine amongst girls in second, fifth and sixth year of secondary school in Scotland is already 92.2% for the first dose and 87.8% for the second dose.

INTERPRETATION

These are provisional statistics on uptake of the vaccine by mid-February 2009.  Uptake rates are based on data recorded on the CHSP-School system as at 16 February 2009*.  Uptake figures are likely to increase slightly, particularly for the second dose.  This is because:
  • Some additional first or second doses of HPV vaccine may have been given but have not yet been recorded on CHSP-School*.
  • Some girls may have missed the earlier HPV immunisation sessions in school and have therefore started their course of HPV vaccinations at the scheduled immunisation sessions which occurred later in the school year.
  • Some older girls, particularly in S6 may have left school, however CHSP-School* may not have been updated to reflect this.  These girls are counted in the denominator figures used to calculate overall uptake rates.
Final uptake rates for girls in school immunised during the first year of the programme will be published following the end of school year 2008/09 and after further data cleansing and quality assurance checks.
 
*All NHS boards except NHS Orkney use CHSP-School to record HPV data for girls in school.  NHS Orkney have provided their own figures.

DETAILED FINDINGS

Provisional figures as at 16th February 2009, at Scotland level show:
  • Uptake of the HPV vaccine amongst girls in second year of secondary school has reached 93.3% for the first dose and 89.5% for the second dose.
  • Uptake amongst girls in fifth year of secondary school has reached 92.4% for the first dose and 87.4% for the second dose.
  • Uptake amongst girls in sixth year of secondary school has reached 90.2% for the first dose and 85.4% for the second dose.
  • Overall, amongst girls in second, fifth and sixth year of secondary school, uptake of the HPV vaccine has reached 92.2% for the first dose and 87.8% for the second dose.


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MAIN CONTACTS:

Ruth Gordon
Information Analyst
Child Health Information Team
Tel: 0131 275 6335

Judith Tait
Child Health Information Team Leader
Tel: 0131 275 6833

Dr Jim Chalmers (Consultant in Public Health Medicine)
Head of Programme
Women & Children's Health Information Programme
Tel: 0131 275 6136

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GLOSSARY:

HPV – Human Papilloma Virus
 
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PRE-RELEASE ACCESS TO THIS PUBLICATION WAS GIVEN TO:

Scottish Government - ASD
Health Protection Scotland
NHS Board Chief Executives
NHS Board Communication leads
 
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HISTORY OF THIS PUBLICATION:

Last Published: This is first publication of HPV Uptake statistics
Next Due: TBC
Data Avaliable Since: n/a

 


Main contact: Email Ruth Gordon