4 March 2024
Today is International HPV (human papillomavirus) Awareness Day, the Oracle Cancer Trust is asking parents to sign the Year 8 HPV Vaccine consent forms. The Oral Health Foundation is supporting the campaign to share awareness of HPV and its impact.
The HPV vaccine is offered to all Year 8 (12- to 13-year-olds) across UK schools with parental consent. A free catch-up programme is available in the UK for girls up to 25 years old and for any boys born after September 1, 2006.
Originally the vaccine was only provided for girls in the UK. After the campaign ‘Jabs for the Boys’ by the Oral Health Foundation and mounting pressure from other health charities, the government made the vaccine gender-neutral potentially saving thousands of lives.
Dr Nigel Carter, CEO of the Oral Health Foundation said: “For many people, HPV is symptomless and causes no harm.
“Around 90% of HPV infections usually go away within two years. For some people though this …
