London Drive Kicks off to Ensure Girls Are Protected against Cervical Cancer as the Capital Sees Lowest Vaccine Uptake Rates in England

MAIDENHEAD, England, January 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --



Whilst the Department of Health's school girl vaccination programme against the cervical cancer-causing human papillomavirus (HPV) has so far proven to be one of the most successful in the world^[1], London has seen the lowest uptake rates in the country and the lowest rates of completion of the three-dose course^[2].

A Healthcare Protection Agency report shows an average uptake rate for three HPV doses in Year 8 schoolgirls aged 12-13 years across London of 76%^[2], compared with the national (England) average of 84%^[1]. While many London boroughs achieve high uptake rates, those in Barnet, Kingston, City & Hackney, Camden, and Kensington & Chelsea fall 20-30% below the national average for uptake of all three HPV vaccine doses amongst 12 to 13 year old girls in the 2010/2011 school year^[2].

Before vaccination, it was estimated that 80% of women may have been infected with HPV in their lifetime^[3]. HPV causes a number of cancers and conditions in both men and women^[4], including cervical cancer which kills around 18 women every week in the UK^[5].

Robert Music, Director of London based charity, Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust, said:

"With research showing that an 80 per cent uptake of the HPV vaccine year on year could see a two thirds reduction in cervical cancer incidence in women under 30 by 2025^[6], it will make a real difference if girls continue to have all three doses of the vaccine. We would therefore like to encourage parents of both the girls who are eligible for the schools programme to ensure their daughters get the vaccine to help protect themselves against cervical cancer, but also remind the parents of those who are no longer in year eight but aged 17 and below that they can still have the vaccine on the NHS for free."

In response to low uptake rates in London, a campaign - 123 Against HPV - has launched, which is supported by vaccine company Sanofi Pasteur MSD, involving advertising on the underground and bus routes across the city, as well as selected London radio and newspaper outlets. It aims to raise awareness amongst parents of girls eligible for the vaccine about the availability, and the need to receive all three doses to be protected against disease caused by HPV infection.

The campaign has been running throughout December and January and is supported by the website: http://www.123againsthpv.co.uk.  

Notes to editors

"123 against HPV"

Sanofi Pasteur MSD offers more information about human papillomavirus, the diseases it causes and how vaccination can help protect against some of them. The company believes that accurate information can help to support parents and girls in conversation with healthcare professionals in making informed decisions about HPV vaccination. The website can be found at:  http://www.123againstHPV.co.uk

London Campaign

Visuals of the advertising campaign can be requested by emailing the contacts listed below.

HPV vaccination in the UK

Following a recommendation by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) in 2007, routine HPV immunisation of girls aged 12-13 years started in September 2008 with an initial accelerated catch-up vaccination of girls aged 13-18 years with the aim of preventing cervical cancer.

More about HPV

HPV is very common and transmitted through genital contact. 70%-80% of sexually active people are estimated to become exposed at some point in their life ^[3].

While 90% of infected women will clear the infection on their own, it is not possible to predict which infections will be cleared and which will progress to disease and ultimately cancer^[7]. There are an estimated 200 different HPV types^[8].

More information about HPV and its link to cervical cancer can be found at: http://www.jostrust.org.uk/

About Sanofi Pasteur MSD

Sanofi Pasteur MSD is a joint venture between Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccine division of Sanofi, and Merck (known as MSD outside the USA and Canada). Combining innovation and expertise, Sanofi Pasteur MSD is the only company in Europe dedicated exclusively to vaccines. Sanofi Pasteur MSD is able to draw on the research expertise of Sanofi Pasteur and Merck, together with their teams throughout the world, to focus on the development of new vaccines for Europe, which aim to extend protection to other diseases and perfect existing vaccines in order to improve the acceptability, efficacy and tolerability of vaccination.

References

1. Health Protection Agency. Health Protection Report 2012;6(12):3-5. http://www.hpa.org.uk/hpr/archives/2012/news1212.htm#hpvvp. Viewed 4 December 2012

2. Department of Health. Annual HPV vaccine coverage in England in 2010/11 report, 22 March 2012. Viewed 4 December 2012 https://www.wp.dh.gov.uk/immunisation/files/2012/03/120319_HPV_UptakeReport2010-11-revised_acc.pdf

3. Syrjänen K et al. Prevalence, incidence and estimated life-time risk of cervical human papillomavirus infections in a nonselected finnish female population. Sex Transm Dis 1990;17[1]:15-19.

4. Arbyn M et al. EUROGIN 2011 roadmap on prevention and treatment of HPV-related disease. Int J Cancer 2012; 131(9):1969-82.

5. Cancer Research UK - Cervical cancer mortality statistics, http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/cancerstats/types/cervix/mortality/. Viewed 4 December 2012

6. J Cuzick et al. Predicted impact of vaccination against human papillomavirus 16/18 on cancer incidence and cervical abnormalities in women aged 20-29 in the UK. Br J Cancer 102, 933-939 doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6605528

7. Pagliusi SR, Aguado MT. Efficacy and other milestones for Human Papillomavirus vaccine introduction. Vaccine  2004;23:569-578.

8. DeVilliers EM et al. Classification of papillomaviruses. Virology 2004;324:17-27.