HPV vaccine uptake in an East Lancashire borough has fallen significantly from pre-pandemic levels, new figures show.

The vaccine helps protect against cancers caused by HPV which includes cervical cancer, some mouth and throat cancers, and some cancers of the genital areas.

Girls in England are offered free HPV jabs during school Years 8 and 9, when they are aged between 12 and 14.

Data from the UK Health Security Agency shows 32.7 per cent of year nine girls in Blackburn with Darwen had both HPV jabs in the 2021/22 academic year, meaning 829 of the 1,231 girls in the cohort were not fully vaccinated.

Last year’s jab rate is well below pre-pandemic levels in 2018/19 when 84.6 per cent of year nine girls were fully vaccinated.

Some girls were given the second shot in year 10 due to the impact of school closures on the programme – 59.6 per cent of this cohort across Blackburn with Darwen had both shots.

Jo’s Cervical Cancer trust stressed that the decline must be “reversed quickly” so progress in decreasing instances of cancer caused by HPV is not lost.

Samantha Dixon, the trust’s chief executive, said cases of cervical cancer had fallen 87 per cent in vaccinated women.

She added: “More education about the HPV vaccine, and how it can protect against cervical cancer, should reduce vaccine hesitancy and tackle barriers to uptake.

“The HPV vaccine – combined with cervical screening – gives us the opportunity to prevent many cases of cervical cancer and save many lives.”

Across the country, about 67.3 per cent of year nine girls were fully vaccinated last year – a drop from the level seen three years before, when 83.9 per cent had both shots.

Dr Vanessa Saliba, a consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA, said: “In recent years we have seen vaccine coverage fall due to the challenges posed by the pandemic.

“Many young people who missed out on their vaccinations have already been caught up, but more needs to be done to ensure all those eligible are vaccinated.

“The vaccine works and will save lives.”