Pupils will be taught how to spot inaccurate information about vaccines being spread online as part of a programme to boost uptake of the HPV jab.

Teachers are being encouraged to carry out Kids Boost Immunity (KBI) lessons with S1 pupils, in the run-up to the time that consent forms for the HPV vaccine are sent home.

It is hoped the World Health Organisation (WHO) accredited programme, which includes topics such as how to assess online information, will help encourage uptake of the jab.

The HPV vaccine is being made available to S1 boys as well as girls from this academic year, with evidence showing the ‘gender neutral’ immunisation programme offers protection from HPV-related cancers.

As part of the teaching resource, which was originally developed in Canada, vaccines are donated to charity UNICEF UK every time a pupil successfully completes an online quiz.

Nuala Healy, organisational lead for screening and immunisation at NHS Health Scotland, said vaccine “hesitancy” had been identified by WHO as one of the top 10 threats to global health.

“With the increased spread of misinformation about vaccines online, it is important that all young people and their parents learn how to evaluate sources of information and are provided with evidence-based information about immunisation.

“Kids Boost Immunity helps young people to do this in a fun and engaging way, rewarding their learning with the opportunity to provide a life-saving vaccine to a child in another country.”

A variety of other measures have been introduced to raise awareness of the extension of the HPV school immunisation programme to S1 boys, including information leaflets, parent letters and consent forms, and posters for schools.

Scotland’s chief medical officer Catherine Calderwood welcomed the KBI lessons as a “new approach to vaccine education in schools.”

“It is an excellent initiative that will support the HPV vaccination programme and pair local learning with global reward as Scotland’s school children are encouraged to earn a vaccine for a child in a developing country as they learn.”

She added: “Evidence has shown that high uptake of the HPV vaccine among girls has reduced levels of cancer-causing HPV in young women in Scotland by 90%.

“Extending the vaccination to S1 boys will help to further reduce diagnoses of HPV related cancers and save lives in years to come.

“I would encourage all those who are eligible to take up the offer of vaccination.”