Hammersmith and Fulham continues to be one of the worst areas in England for the uptake of vaccines to prevent cervical cancer.
Only 73.3 per cent of year eight girls received all three doses of the HPV vaccine in 2013 to 2014, data from Public Health England has revealed.
This makes it the eighth lowest area in England and well below the national average of 86.7 per cent uptake of all three doses among girls aged 12 to 13. It means 273 girls (26.7 per cent) did not receive all doses and 241 girls received no dose at all.
In Kensington and Chelsea, the uptake was also low at 78.9 per cent while in Westminster it was 77.9 per cent.
All girls aged 12 to 13 are offered the non-mandatory vaccination by the NHS in schools to protect against cervical cancer which can be contracted when HPV is spread, usually via sexual transmission.
A spokesperson for NHS England said: “The performance data on HPV in young women has historically been on the low side in Hammersmith and Fulham and we are working with the local CCG and other providers to improve the profile and benefits of this HPV vaccination regime, which protects against some types of cervical cancer.”
The vaccine is offered by the NHS until a girl’s 18th birthday to those who do not have it in year eight.
Percentage uptake of the HPV vaccine in west London
Hammersmith and Fulham: 73.3 per cent
Ealing: 77 per cent
Westminster: 77.9 per cent
Kensington and Chelsea: 78.9 per cent
Brent: 81.1 per cent
Harrow: 83.2 per cent
Hounslow: 86.2 per cent
Hillingdon: 86.5 per cent
