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Community pharmacies in England could offer “catch-up” human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations in efforts to eliminate cervical cancer.
The proposals were outlined in updated plans from NHS England on cervical cancer elimination by 2040 — a goal that was originally set in November 2023.
NHS England says that over 99% of cervical cancer cases are caused by HPV. The first HPV vaccine was launched in the UK in 2008 and was offered to all girls aged 12 or 13 years in secondary school.
Young males aged 12 and 13 years were offered the vaccine from 2019.
The vaccine is currently offered in secondary schools to students aged up to 18 years, with catch-up vaccinations offered through general practice to those aged between 14 and 25 years. It is already offered privately in some community pharmacies, costing more than £150 per dose.
The new NHS plans highlight community pharmacy as an additional location for catch-up vaccinations as a way to improve access to the vaccine.
“NHS England is developing the digital enablers required to support increased access to catch-up HPV vaccinations in alternative settings (such as community pharmacy),” the plans explained.
“This includes invitations and reminders and the ability to book appointments through the NHS App and website.”
NHS England added that “school-age and general practice providers will play a key role in raising awareness of vaccination and screening opportunities, and community pharmacy will also help raise cultural awareness in their local communities”.
In January 2025, the UK Health Security Agency urged young people to catch up on missed HPV vaccines, noting that while uptake was increasing among young people in year 8 of secondary school, “uptake among school pupils is still well below pre-pandemic levels of around 90%”.
Commenting on the proposal, Alastair Buxton, director of NHS services at Community Pharmacy England, said: “We believe further commissioning of pharmacies to provide NHS vaccination programmes, such as catch-up HPV vaccinations, can help address falling vaccine coverage, particularly in relation to less well-served groups of the population.
“Agreeing national enhanced services with NHS England is an approach we believe can support ICBs [integrated care boards] to easily commission community pharmacies to help address their populations’ unmet vaccination needs once ICBs take on delegated responsibility for vaccination commissioning in April 2026.”
Tase Oputu, chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) English Pharmacy Board, said: “We welcome NHS England’s ambition to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040 and its recognition of the important role community pharmacies can play in supporting this goal. Community pharmacies are highly accessible and trusted healthcare providers, making them well-placed to support HPV vaccination efforts and improve uptake.
“For this to be successful, it is essential that pharmacy teams receive the necessary training and support, as well as sufficient funding to ensure a sustainable and efficient service.”
In January 2024, Public Health Scotland said no cervical cancer cases have been detected in fully vaccinated women who had received the HPV vaccine at age 12 or 13 years.
In 2021, it was reported that the incidence of cervical cancer in England had reduced by 87% in women in their 20s who were offered the vaccine when they were aged 12 or 13 years.
In January 2024, Public Health Wales said that rates of cervical cancer among women in their 20s who were offered the vaccine aged 12 or 13 years had reduced by almost 90%.
