Annexe A: detailed information and guidance for healthcare professionals
Published 24 February 2022
Applies to England
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hpv-immunisation-programme-changes-from-april-2022-letter/annexe-a-detailed-information-and-guidance-for-healthcare-professionals
This guidance is based on advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) the UK’s independent advisory committee of immunisation experts. In May 2020, the JCVI human papillomavirus (HPV) sub-committee agreed that the schedule for those aged over 15 years should change from 3 doses to 2 doses given at least 6 months apart. Based on this, the JCVI main committee advised the move to a 2-dose schedule at least 6 months apart, for both those aged 15 years and over and men who have sex with men (MSM).
The JCVI also advised (in June 2021) that the 3-dose schedule should continue to be offered to individuals who are known to be HIV-infected, including those on antiretroviral therapy, or are known to be immunocompromised at the time of immunisation.
Timing
From 1 April 2022, those individuals who would have been eligible to receive 3 doses (eligible MSM, and those aged from 15 to 25 years of age who remain eligible under the NHS universal adolescent programme), will only require 2 doses, at least 6 months apart, to be fully vaccinated. Individuals who start the NHS HPV vaccination programme prior to April 2022 should continue on the planned 3-dose schedule. Those who commence prior to April 2022 whose schedule is interrupted or delayed such that they had an interval of 6 months or more between their first and second dose only need a 2-dose schedule (do not require a third dose).
Vaccine supply
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) will continue to supply vaccine for the national NHS HPV vaccination programmes in the usual way. Please consider the schedule change when placing orders for HPV vaccine, and make sure that locally held stocks of vaccine are rotated in fridges so that wastage is minimised. Vaccine for uses not covered by the routine NHS schedule should be procured locally.
Patient Group Directions (PGDs)
An updated HPV PGD and HPV (MSM) PGD template will be produced by UKHSA for NHS England and NHS Improvement areas to authorise for their commissioned services.
Information and guidance for healthcare professionals and patients
Detailed clinical guidance on HPV vaccination is contained in chapter 18a of Immunisation Against Infectious Disease (the Green Book). Please note a revised HPV chapter will be published in due course to reflect those changes to the programme.
Healthcare professional information and guidance to support the HPV programme including a training slide set will be updated to reflect the above change and become available on the HPV vaccination programme webpage.
Updated patient information materials will be available on the HPV vaccination programme webpage and HPV vaccination programme for MSM webpage and to order from the Health Publications website.
See Annexe D for further details on programme information resources to support the change.