A vocal cord cancer survivor from Chester, is urging parents to sign the consent form for their children’s HPV vaccination when they receive it, this World Head and Neck Cancer Day (Saturday 27 July 2024).

Dad-of-two Steve Sweeney, who was diagnosed with T2 vocal cord cancer in 2015, is now warning parents that HPV (human papillomavirus) can be the cause of a number of cancers, not just cervical cancer, and is encouraging them to ensure both boys and girls are vaccinated in school.

More than 12,000 new cases of head and neck cancers are diagnosed in the UK every year, and some of those are caused by HPV (human papillomavirus). However, many still believe that the virus can only cause cervical cancer.

Steve, who had two surgeries at Manchester University NHS FT to remove the cancer, and 20 rounds of radiotherapy at The Christie NHS FT, has now been cancer free for almost nine years. He, alongside his children Ben and Charlotte, now raise awareness when they can, about the life-saving vaccine.

Steve and Ben were guests on the ‘You, me and the big C’ podcast urging boys to get vaccinated, and Charlotte, who recently had the HPV vaccine has done presentations to her school, and encouraged her classmates to take up the opportunity, overcoming her own fear of needles for the greater good.

Steve said: “Signing the consent form for your child to have the HPV vaccine is a no brainer, why wouldn’t you? You are giving your kids as close to a guarantee as you’re going to get, that they won’t get certain types of cancer, because proper uptake of the vaccine will reduce the rates so dramatically.

“It’s about the future – it’s one vaccine, with lifelong protection for our children.”

Following updated guidance last year, the NHS updated its HPV vaccination programme to a single dose instead of two doses for most under 25s, making it easier than ever for young people and parents of 12-13 year olds to ensure they are protected.

Latest data shows that in the North West, in the academic year September 2022 – August 2023, fewer than 75% of girls and fewer than 66% of boys were vaccinated in Year 8, leaving more than one-third of boys and one in four girls unprotected against the HPV virus.

The HPV vaccine programme is delivered routinely in school in year 8 but anyone who is eligible and has missed the vaccine can have it as a catch up in school, or if they have left school, they can request from the GP up to their 25th birthday.

Helen Dickinson, Deputy Head of Public Health at NHS England – North West said: “Steve’s story shows how important it is for parents to sign the consent form for all their children, to have the HPV vaccine, and now that the HPV vaccine has moved to just a single dose for under-25s, it’s easier than ever to get your children protected.

“The HPV vaccine helps protect against a range of cancers, including cervical, head and neck, anal and genital cancers, which can affect both boys and girls, and since its introduction, the HPV vaccine has already reduced rates significantly in these cancers.

“Once children return to school in September, parents should keep an eye out for the consent form, and consent to having the HPV vaccine if their children aren’t up to date. This vaccination is saving lives.”

If you are concerned that your child has missed out on the HPV vaccine, please contact your child’s school nurse, school aged vaccination service or GP surgery to find out more.