Abstract

The recent introduction of routine immunisation against human papillomavirus (HPV) in adolescent girls in the UK has focused attention on the potential for immunisation in this age group. In this review the authors suggest that this is an opportunity that is not being fully utilised. In particular, there are arguments for adolescent vaccines to boost immunity against Bordetella pertussis and Neisseria meningitidis infections, and the successful implementation of the HPV vaccine could be taken as a model to prevent another sexually transmitted carcinogenic infection, hepatitis B virus.