HPV VACCINE ANNOUNCEMENT

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From:	Dr David Salisbury CB - Immunisation and communicable disease team - Department of Health
Date:	20 June 2007

Reference	CEM/CMO/2007/13
Category:	NON URGENT (cascade within 48 hours)

Title:	HPV VACCINE ANNOUNCEMENT

Broadcast Content:

All GENERAL PRACTITIONERS - please ensure this message is seen by all practice nurses and non-principals working in your practice

- Lead nurses in PCTs
- PCT Pharmaceutical Advisers to forward to community pharmacists

To: Medical Directors of NHS Trusts to forward to:
- all relevant hospital doctors

Dear Colleague

HPV VACCINE

The Department of Health announced earlier today that it has agreed in principle to introducing a vaccine against human papilloma virus (HPV). This is subject to independent peer review of the cost-benefit analysis, and follows advice received from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the independent expert body that provides advice on vaccines.

Human Papilloma Viruses cause 99 per cent of invasive cervical cancer. It is estimated that HPV vaccines could reduce the number of cases of cervical cancer by up to 70%. The highly successful and comprehensive cervical screening programme (smear tests) will continue after an HPV vaccine has been introduced.

Details of the programme will be finalised over the next few months, following further advice from JCVI and the independent peer review process.

Implementing an HPV vaccination for girls around 12 years of age will be complex as three doses of the vaccine are required to provide protection. This announcement of the potential new programme provides opportunities for the Department and the NHS to work together to plan how the programme could roll out. The Department is planning to arrange workshops for PCT Immunisation Co-ordinators after the summer break to help facilitate planning.

In order to help planning and ensure records are up to date, I would be grateful if:

- SHAs could confirm the name, e-mail address, and telephone number of their Immunisation Lead;

- PCTs could confirm the name, e-mail address, and telephone number of their PCT Immunisation Co-ordinator.

This information should be e-mailed to Maureen Ambler (Maureen.Ambler@dh.gsi.gov.uk) by the end of June.

In would be grateful if this letter could be cascaded to health professionals such as Practice Nurses, Lead Nurses at PCT’s, and General Practitioners.

Yours sincerely

Professor David Salisbury CB
Director of Immunisation

This document has been authorised by the Department of Health: Gateway reference no: 8432

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