Press centre

Scottish Government news releases about the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) immunisation programme

26 March 2009
High uptake for cervical cancer jag

1 September 2008
Cervical cancer vaccination begins in Scotland

31 July 2008
Anti-cancer vaccine campaign

20 June 2008
Health Secretary says vaccine will be made available free to girls around age of 12

8 April 2008
National immunisation programme to begin in Scottish schools on September 1

26 October 2007
Vaccine to be given to thousands more teenage girls than originally planned

Fact sheet for journalists

Information about Scotland's HPV immunisation programme.

What is cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer occurs in the cervix — the neck or entrance to the womb. It is caused by HPV and is the second most common cancer affecting women in the world. In the UK, around 1,000 women die from cervical cancer each year and around 100 women in Scotland. In Scotland, around 300 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed each year. The rate of contracting cervical cancer increases when women reach their late 30s.

How can cervical cancer be detected?

Cervical screening is offered to women in Scotland between the ages of 20 and 60 every three years. Cervical screening can identify pre-cancerous cell changes in women who otherwise have no symptoms. Since the introduction of the national cervical screening programme in 1988, cervical cancer rates have dropped by 43%. The cervical screening programme will continue in Scotland, alongside the immunisation programme. It is still vital for those immunised to continue to attend cervical screening at their GP practice or family planning centre.

The HPV vaccine

The vaccine is designed to protect girls from developing cervical cancer later in life. The vaccine protects against the two types of HPV that can cause 70% of the cases of cervical cancer. It does not protect against all other types, so regular cervical screening is necessary from the age of 20. Cervical screening is offered to women in Scotland between the ages of 20 and 60 every three years.

It is important that the vaccine is provided to girls early enough to be effective, which is why girls in second year at secondary school (S2) are being targeted.

In uninfected women, immunisation has been shown to be highly successful in preventing pre-cancerous lesions caused by HPV types 16 and 18.

What is HPV?

Around 40 types of HPV can infect the genital area and these HPV infections almost always clear up on their own. If infection persists it may start to damage the cells and create lesions, which, if left untreated, can develop into cancer.

There are over 100 types of HPV, but two types – HPV 16 and 18 – cause 70% of cervical cancer.

HPV is spread by intimate skin-to-skin contact in the genital area, including sexual intercourse. Around 75% of sexually active women will have been infected with HPV by the age of 50, many without knowing it, as there are usually no symptoms.

The immunisation

All girls aged 12 to 13 years of age (S2) in Scotland are being invited to receive the HPV vaccine. In Scotland, this routine programme will target 30,000 girls each year.

For a period of three years, older girls in Scotland are also being offered the HPV vaccine through a one-off catch-up programme, which started at the same time the routine programme began in September 2008.

The immunisation will involve having three injections over a period of six months in order to get the best protection. The nurse or doctor will give the injection in the upper arm. For pupils in schools, the nurse will offer the immunisation.

For girls who have left school, the local NHS will make arrangements for their immunisation.

Other groups

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that it is not cost effective to run a national immunisation programme for girls aged 18 and over.

This is mainly because a relatively high proportion are already infected with the virus and would benefit less from the immunisation. The vaccine will not protect against those people with existing HPV infection.

Boys will not be immunised as the priority is to directly protect girls against cervical cancer. By protecting all girls against the two most common causes of cervical cancer eventually everybody’s level of protection will be raised because there will be fewer viruses circulating. This is the ‘herd immunity’ effect.

Media enquiries

For all media enquiries call 0131 536 5500 and ask for the press office.