Health: Human Papilloma Virus
House of Lords
The Countess of Mar (Crossbench)
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 22 May (WA 47-8), what precautions are in place to ensure that parents whose daughters may have immune system dysfunctions are not pressurised into giving consent for their daughters to receive human papilloma virus vaccinations.
Earl Howe (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Quality), Health; Conservative)
Immunisation in the United Kingdom is voluntary. Guidance on explaining about the vaccination to be given, and obtaining consent, is set out in Immunisation Against Infectious Disease-"The Green Book". This has already been placed in the Library. The medical professional providing the vaccine should check at the time of vaccination with the patient, or their parent or guardian, on their medical history and any possible previous reaction to the vaccine or its constituents.
The presence of immune system dysfunctions does not necessarily preclude receiving HPV vaccination. Individuals who are immunosuppressed may not develop a full antibody response to the vaccine, and may therefore not receive the same degree of protection against HPV.