Overwhelming support from dentists for gender-neutral HPV vaccinations

In the new poll, published by the campaign coalition HPV Action for World Immunisation Week (April 24-28), 97 per cent of dentists backed expansion of the programme, with the same proportion saying if they had a son they would want them to receive the vaccination. Of GPs polled, 94 per cenr said they would support both positions.

The survey was sent to members of the British Dental Association, the Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK) and the British Medical Association. Findings come as the Government’s vaccination advisory committee (JCVI) moves towards a decision on whether boys should be given the HPV vaccination.

Up to 80 per cent of sexually active people will be infected by HPV at some point in their lives. Of all cancers, 5 per cent are caused by HPV and some of these, notably oral cancers, are now rising sharply in incidence. HPV-related cancers such as anal cancer are also among the hardest to diagnose and treat.

Parliamentarians from all parties have signed an open letter to the Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt MP, urging him to ensure that the UK doesn’t miss this opportunity to eradicate some of the fastest rising cancers in the developed world.

Mick Armstrong, chair of the BDA's Principal Executive Committee, said, “HPV is the leading cause of oro-pharyngeal cancers and men are just as likely to develop it as women so where is the logic – or fairness – in targeting protection to one section of the population? It is morally indefensible to allow people to contract cancer when prevention – the new NHS mantra – could be so cheap and easy. Cancers affecting the mouth and throat have a huge impact on the quality of people’s lives, so it’s frustrating for dentists, who are often the first to detect them, knowing how easily they could have been prevented."