Timeline and Response

This segment includes additional information on:

• Describe the United Kingdom Department of Health (UK DH) human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination programme,
• Provide a step-by-step account and timeline of a serious AEFI that occurred on 28 September 2009,
• Explain how the government managed their immediate response to the event.

Timeline

In September 2008, the UK DH launched their national programme to vaccinate girls aged 12–13 (school year 8) against HPV.

At the same time, a two-year catch-up campaign began to vaccinate older girls under the age of 18 years.

The programme is delivered largely through secondary schools.

Three doses of HPV vaccine (also known as cervical cancer jabs) are given over a six-month period.

The first year of the programme achieved high vaccination coverage with all three HPV doses (81% of the girls aged 12–13 years).^*

More than 1.4 million doses have been given since the vaccine programme started.

To learn more about the UK DH’s programme visit www.nhs.uk/Conditions/HPV-vaccination or review the 2009 Annual Report.