HPV VACCINE AND CANCER SCREENING AWARENESS SESSIONS AT COVENTRY COLLEGE
2 April 2025
In March 2025, over 200 students from Coventry College participated in 
engagement sessions focused on the HPV vaccine and cancer screening awareness. These informative sessions were conducted over two days, with six separate groups of approximately 30-40 students in each group.
The aim of these sessions was to raise awareness about cancer screening and ensure that students have equitable access to local healthcare services, addressing disparities in healthcare access within the community.
Key insights from the sessions revealed that more than half of the students who attended had already received their HPV vaccine. However, some students mentioned that they had missed their vaccination due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Additionally, it was noted that students for whom English is a second language, and who had not attended secondary school in the UK, had not been vaccinated for HPV.
In response to this, the Vaccination and Immunisation Team have been contacted to explore the possibility of hosting a pop-up event to offer the HPV vaccine to students who had not yet received it and expressed interest in doing so.
The sessions were highly interactive, with many students asking thoughtful questions, which signalled a positive shift in their understanding of cancer screening. Some students raised concerns about how to determine whether they had received the vaccine, while others were hearing about HPV for the first time.
A particularly impactful moment during the sessions was when a member of staff shared her personal cancer story, providing a real-life connection to the topic and offering inspiration through her success story within the college community.
Students were provided with informative resources to share with family and friends, helping to extend the reach of the message. Moving forward, additional engagement opportunities will be explored with both current and prospective students across various educational settings.