UK action triggers Europe-wide coalition to eliminate HPV cancers

The new ‘HPV Action Network’ was announced yesterday as high-level cancer experts from across Europe gathered in Brussels.

The alliance has been formed by the European CanCer Organisation (ECCO) with the goal to end all cancers caused by HPV across Europe.     

HPV is the cause of five per cent of all cancers. These include cervical, mouth, head and neck, anal and penile cancers.

The UK began vaccinating girls from HPV in 2008 and boys from September 2019.

The Oral Health Foundation was one of the groups instrumental in campaigning for the UK vaccination. Chief Executive of the charity, Nigel Carter OBE, says HPV remains one of the most destructive public health problems in Europe.

Nigel says, “HPV cancers and diseases affect hundreds of thousands of people across Europe every year. We now have an effective vaccination that can protect people against HPV, but despite this, most countries across Europe are not yet vaccinating both boys and girls.