Written Question · S4W-23109 · Session 4
In light of the submission by Cancer Research UK to the Public Petitions Committee in August 2013, which expressed concern about possible h…
The question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the submission by Cancer Research UK to the Public Petitions Committee in August 2013, which expressed concern about possible health inequalities arising through the current human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme, whether it will write to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation regarding changing the programme to include all 12 and 13-year-old boys.
The answer
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, Alex Neil, wrote to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) in August 2013 regarding HPV vaccination for boys. The JCVI recognises the importance of ongoing assessment of HPV vaccination for adolescent boys and has responded positively to the need to consider HPV vaccination more widely by establishing an HPV sub-committee. Modelling work and the impact of cost effectiveness of HPV vaccination for boys will be taken forward in early 2015 by Public Health England and the JCVI will provide recommendations in due course. The Scottish Government, as with other UK health departments, takes advice on immunisation from the JCVI and will of course consider carefully any future JCVI recommendations in respect of HPV vaccination for adolescent boys.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S4W-23109 by reference.