HPV immunisation programme: FOI release

Information requested

Who authorised the HPV programme for girls?

Why is a cancer prevention treatment for girls being given to boys?

The package sent out to parents does not have the ingredients or side effects, why?

What are the long time side effects of the HPV vaccination? 

Response

In response to point 1 and 2 of your FOI request, vaccination policy in Scotland, in line with the rest of the UK, is based on recommendations from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

The JCVI is an expert group which considers a wide range of available evidence to inform advice on all aspects of vaccination. Following the JCVI’s recommendation, Scottish Ministers approved the HPV programme for girls which commenced in 2008. Following the JCVI’s recommendation in 2018, the HPV programme for boys was introduced in 2019, offering the vaccine to all S1 boys along with girls.

Further information on the rationale for the JCVI’s recommendation to include boys in the HPV vaccination programme can be found online at Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) where you can access all JCVI minutes including the HPV sub-group minutes.

In response to point 3 of your FOI request, although our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested. However, you may wish to contact Public Health Scotland at PHS.FOI@phs.scot who may be able to help you.

In response to point 4 of your request, the information you have requested is available from HPV vaccination and cervical cancer information - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Once vaccines have been licensed for use, their safety continues to be monitored from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Side effects can be reported for all medicines including vaccines using the Yellow Card Scheme, further information is available from Yellow Card Scheme - MHRA.

Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.