EMIS Spotlight ISSUE 4 DIGITAL 2

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A tech powered shot in the arm for HPV vaccinations Dr Ian Wood, GP and clinical director for EMIS

Spring 2024

Each year millions of pounds and countless hours are invested in finding cures for cancer. Remarkedly in 2021 we had such a breakthrough for cervical cancer – a disease affecting 1 in 142 women in the UK, contributing to around 850 deaths each year.

It’s not every day that we uncover proven routes to reducing the risk of cancer.” Dr Ian Wood - GP and clinical director for EMIS While the HPV vaccination is commissioned at a local level and delivered within secondary schools, primary care is also being called upon to help catch those young women between the ages of 14 to 25 who may have slipped through the vaccination net. As a GP, I don’t want to let the opportunity pass by to play a part in reducing the risk of cervical cancer for my patients. Using technology, the process needn’t add further strain to primary care and could empower local collaboration to play a larger, more effective role in the programme – which could ultimately save lives. And here’s how. Readily available technology in our Pathway solution could surface unvaccinated patients to teams able and eager to address the gap in a personalised and targeted approach.

A landmark study proved that when the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine was administered to girls aged 12 to 13 years old, the risk of them developing cervical cancer reduced by 87.7%. It’s not every day that we uncover proven routes to reducing the risk of cancer. And yet, in the same year the research was announced, we sadly saw vaccination rates decline – especially among those who could most benefit - with a 7% drop in girls aged 12 to 13. Newly published NHS vaccination strategy takes further steps toward the commitment to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040, and outlines planned improvements to school-aged vaccination delivery.