The NHS will today make a ‘truly momentous’ pledge to eradicate cervical cancer by 2040, a move that will save thousands of lives.
Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of NHS England, will pledge to achieve the ‘life-saving ambition’ by increasing uptake of the HPV vaccine and screening.
Every year in England, around 2,700 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 850 die from it.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) refers to a group of viruses that can be transmitted through sexual contact and do not cause symptoms.
About 13 high-risk types of HPV are known to cause 99.7 percent of cervical cancer cases.
Amanda Pritchard (pictured in May), chief executive of NHS England, will pledge to deliver the ‘life-saving ambition’ by increasing uptake of the HPV vaccine and screening. Approximately 2,700 women in England are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year and 850 die from it
Human papillomavirus (HPV) refers to a group of viruses that can be transmitted through sexual contact and do not cause symptoms. About 13 high-risk types of HPV are known to cause 99.7 percent of cervical cancer cases
There is a vaccine against HPV that is given to boys and girls when they are 12 to 13 years old and to people at high risk for the disease.
Under the new plans, those eligible for the jab will be able to get it in more convenient locations such as libraries and sports centers – and more women will be given the chance to self-test for infections in the comfort of their own home.
The NHS is also working to improve its mobile phone app so users can view their full vaccination details and reserve any vaccination details they are missing.
Speaking to health leaders at the NHS Providers’ annual conference in Liverpool, Ms Pritchard is expected to say: ‘It is truly momentous to be able to express such an important, life-saving ambition today – eradicating cervical cancer would be an incredible be an act. Through a combination of our HPV vaccination program and our highly effective cervical screening program, this achievement could become a reality within the next twenty years.
‘As always, the public can do their part by coming forward for their vaccines and screening appointments by invitation.
Since the early 1990s, the incidence of cervical cancer among women in Britain has fallen by 25 percent. Data from Cancer Research UK (pictured) shows the trend
‘To achieve our goal of eradicating cervical cancer, we need as many people as possible to take up the offer, so don’t wait too long – it could save your life.’
Since September, children in group 8 have received a single dose of the jab, instead of the two doses given previously.
The latest figures for 2021/2022 show that 86.5 per cent of girls and 81.5 per cent of boys had received one dose in year 10.
In addition to fighting cervical cancer, the HPV vaccine also helps prevent cancer of the mouth, throat, anus and genitals.
The NHS is working to increase the number of women attending cervical screening appointments by ensuring that those who do not attend receive reminders.
Currently, a third of women do not accept their offer.
NHS screening helps prevent cervical cancer by using a highly effective test to check for high-risk HPV, which can cause abnormal cells to form in the cervix.
These abnormal cells can turn into cancer over time if not treated.
Last year, more than five million people between the ages of 25 and 64 were invited for cervical cancer screening, of which 3.5 million were tested.
Current pilots investigating whether self-sampling can be introduced as part of national screening will be expanded.
The World Health Organization considers cervical cancer eliminated when the incidence is less than four per 100,000 women.
England is one of the first countries in the world to set this elimination ambition within the next twenty years.
Anyone who is eligible and has not yet received a single-dose HPV vaccination can catch up through their GP practice until their 25th birthday.
Dr. Julie Sharp, head of healthcare and patient information at Cancer Research UK, said: ‘We support NHS England’s goal and pledge to save even more lives from cervical cancer.
‘Combined with screening, HPV vaccination could reduce cervical cancer to the point where almost no one gets it anymore.’
A spokesperson for Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust said: ‘We are very pleased that NHS England is pledging to eradicate cervical cancer by 2040.
‘The HPV vaccination program has been incredibly successful and has already led to an 87 percent reduction in the incidence of cervical cancer in women in their 20s.
‘By improving the uptake of both cervical screening and HPV vaccines, we can make cervical cancer a thing of the past.’
Australia expects to be the first country in the world to eradicate cervical cancer by 2035.
Steve Russell, national director for vaccinations and screening at NHS England, said: ‘Vaccination and screening are some of the most powerful tools we have to prevent disease and stop people becoming unwell.
‘We have learned invaluable lessons from the pandemic, with our hugely successful Covid-19 vaccine program saving thousands of lives, and our vision for the future of vaccination is based on those lessons, with plans to educate millions more about the importance of vaccination. while making it easier than ever to access vaccines online.”
Professor Peter Johnson, national clinical director for cancer at NHS England, said: ‘It’s great news that we are on track to eradicate cervical cancer in this country by 2040.
‘But in addition to the success of the HPV vaccine for both boys and girls, regular screenings for cervical cancer in women are still essential to stop the development of cancer cells.
‘A third of women do not take up the offer of cervical screening when invited, which is still a major risk to our plans.
‘Cervical cancer often causes no symptoms during the early stages of the disease, so it is especially important that people attend their tests when invited by the NHS and that those eligible are vaccinated against HPV.’