NHS Launches 2025–26 HPV Catch-Up Campaign

This summer, NHS England unveiled an ambitious HPV catch-up campaign for 2025–26, running from 21 July 2025 to 31 March 2026. The initiative targets unvaccinated individuals aged 16 to 24, offering overdue protection against the human papillomavirus (HPV)—a virus central to the prevention of several cancers.(NHS England)

Who’s eligible?

• Girls born on or before 1 September 2009 (up to age 25)

• Boys born between 1 September 2006 and 31 August 2009

General Practitioners (GPs) are encouraged to use every patient interaction as a chance to discuss and administer the HPV jab—a “Make Every Contact Count” approach. Incentivisation includes a service fee of £10.06 per vaccine and access to campaign resources via FutureNHS.

HPV: What You Need to Know

HPV is extremely common. While most infections resolve on their own, high-risk strains—like types 16 and 18—cause around 99% of cervical cancer cases, and are linked to cancers in the vulva, vagina, anus, mouth, and throat.

In England, the combined strategy of HPV vaccination and cervical screening has dramatically lowered cervical cancer cases. For those vaccinated at age 12–13, the reduction is nearly 90% compared to earlier generations.

Notably, the gap in cervical cancer disparities among deprived communities has reduced—vaccination has prevented more cases in these groups than in affluent ones, proving powerful equity impact.

Why This Matters Now

• Screening is lagging: A recent report shows one in three individuals eligible for cervical screening in the UK are now overdue. Attendance has dropped from 72.2% in 2020 to 68.4% in 2024. Common barriers include fear, discomfort, and misinformation.

• Geographic inequalities persist: Uptake of HPV vaccination in Year 10 remains uneven. London shows the lowest coverage—only 64.9% for girls and 58.9% for boys—while the southeast boasts rates as high as 82.7% and 77.3%, respectively.

  
  

HPV vaccination is one of the most effective tools against preventable women's cancers. The 2025–26 NHS campaign offers a second chance to those previously missed, anchoring progress toward eliminating cervical cancer in England by 2040.

Cultivating comprehensive, accessible prevention—through both vaccination and screening—is not optional. It's a matter of health equity, bodily autonomy, and public responsibility.