Girls in Suffolk are not taking a cancer vaccine in the same numbers as they were before the pandemic according to figures from the UK Health Security Agency.

The human papillomavirus vaccine helps protect against a range of cancers, including cervical, head and neck, anal and genital cancers, which can affect everyone.

It is offered to all 12-13 year-olds in schools and community clinics, but parents are required to give consent for their child to receive the jab from NHS nurses.

Data from the UK Health Security Agency shows 65.6% of Year 9 girls in Suffolk had both HPV jabs in the 2022-23 academic year.

It means 1,504 of the 4,376 girls in the cohort were not fully vaccinated.

The jab rate was up on 39.8% the year before but significantly below the 89.5% coverage in 2018-19, before the pandemic.

It comes as the charity Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust said it was "disappointing" to see coverage of the life-saving vaccine continue to fall across the country.

NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board cancer lead Dr Peter Holloway said: “The HPV vaccine provides important protection against some cancers that can affect young people, particularly cervical cancer. It is now given in schools in one dose to boys and girls aged 12 to 13.

“We know the vaccine is safe and effective, and we urge all parents to consider the importance of giving their consent for the vaccinations offered.

“This not only protects the individual against potentially serious disease but will also help to reduce the risk of certain cancers for everyone.

“Anyone who has any concerns about vaccination is encouraged to speak to a health professional for the trusted facts.”

Some girls were given the second shot in year 10 due to the impact of school closures the programme — 76.9% of this cohort across Suffolk had both jabs.

The charity Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust said: "It's disappointing to see that coverage is lower than it was last year, and far lower than pre-pandemic levels."

"To achieve NHS England's target of eliminating cervical cancer by 2040, we need to make sure that children aren't missing out on this incredible vaccine," the charity added.

Across England, some 62.9% of girls in year 9 had both doses of the vaccine – a decrease of 4.4% compared to 2021-2022, and 21% lower than before the pandemic in 2018-2019.

The figures also showed coverage in males was lower than females in all cohorts for both doses of HPV.