Correspondence

HPV vaccination programme: change from 3 to 2 doses

This letter provides information on forthcoming changes to the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine programme.

Documents

Joint letter on HPV vaccine schedule change: 14 May 2014

Details

In March 2014, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) revised its existing recommendation to change from a 3 to a 2 dose schedule. Recent research shows that antibody response to 2 doses in adolescent girls is as good as a 3 dose course in the age group where efficacy against persistent infection and pre-cancerous lesions has been demonstrated.

Emerging evidence from evaluation of HPV programmes around the world has shown that the number of young people with pre-cancerous lesions is falling and protection is expected to be long term.

Published 14 May 2014