Consultant urges boys to take up HPV vaccine

A consultant and president of a cancer support charity hopes to raise take-up rates of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine among boys.

Maz Darji, a consultant radiographer at Northampton General Hospital and president of the Swallows Head and Neck Cancer Support Group, expressed concern over low uptake rates among Year 10 boys in Northamptonshire.

HPV is a sexually transmitted infection that causes many oral, throat and anal cancers.

"Boys are offered [the vaccine] but the take-up is a bit low. But in years to come, if everyone starts taking the vaccine, it will lead to a better outcome," said Mr Darji.

Figures from the Department of Health show that as of August 2023, only 69.6% of Year 10 boys in Northamptonshire had received both doses of the HPV vaccine, compared to 74.1% of girls in the same age group.

Nationally, the average uptake for boys is 78.6% and 83.2% for girls.

The HPV vaccine was introduced for girls in 2008 to prevent cervical cancer and then extended to boys in 2019.

Anyone who missed their vaccine can request it through the NHS up to the age of 25.

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