I attended a Westminster reception for Cervical Cancer Prevention Week.
I joined the charity Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust and the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Victoria Atkins at the event on Wednesday.
MPs heard that every day two women lose their lives to cervical cancer. The NHS has pledged to eliminate it by 2040 following the introduction of the HPV vaccine.
The jab not only protects women against the HPV virus, which causes cancer, it also protects men too from related cancers.
I was told in Dudley, 74.9% of Year 10 girls have had two doses of the vaccine and 91% have had one dose. It is also vital boys get the vaccine - 85.6% of Year 10 boys have had two doses.
The message from this important event is that boys and girls who have the HPV jab are protecting themselves from cancer and doing so will help eliminate cervical cancer within a generation.
I am very pleased with the Dudley figures. There is room for improvement, especially on second doses for girls, but I am pleased the message is getting through.
Studies have shown that women who were vaccinated in their teens have had about 450 fewer diagnoses of cervical cancer. This means the incidence of cervical cancer has decreased by 87% in women in their 20s.
If your child has not been vaccinated, please speak to your GP or school nurse to get booked in.
For more information please visit: www.jostrust.org.uk/ccpw
