Prophylactic human papillomavirus vaccination update

•  Prophylactic human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination was implemented in the UK in 2008 for girls aged 12–13 years. •  There is a ‘catch‐up’ programme for girls up to the age of 18 years. •  The bivalent vaccine (Cervarix®), covering HPV 16 and 18 was chosen for the first 3 years of the UK vaccination programme. •  Surveillance is essential to evaluate long‐term effectiveness and answer the remaining questions.Learning objectives:•  To be aware of the implementation of HPV vaccination in the UK. •  To be aware of remaining unanswered questions and the need for surveillance. •  To understand the importance of key messages for girls being vaccinated against HPV.Ethical issues:•  Will HPV vaccination of girls in the UK be acceptable to everyone? •  Have the key public health messages been clearly stated and understood? •  Addressing the major burden of HPV‐related neoplasia in developing countries is an ethical imperative.Please cite this article as: Fiander A. Prophylactic human papillomavirus vaccination update. The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 2009;11:133–135.