HPV vaccine for adolescents aged 12 to 13 years old
The HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine is offered to girls and boys aged 12 to 13 years old to help protect them against HPV-related cancers.
About the HPV vaccine
The HPV vaccine helps protect you from cancers that can be caused by HPV, such as:
- cervical cancers (in women)
- some mouth and throat cancers
- some cancers of the anus and genitals
The vaccine will prevent up to 90 per cent of cervical cancer cases.
It will also protect you against the types of HPV that cause over 90 per cent of genital wart infections.
It won’t protect you against any other sexually transmitted infections.
It also won’t stop girls getting pregnant.
Although it is very unlikely that you will be at risk of HPV infection for many years, it is recommended you have the vaccine at age 12 to 13 years, as protection from the vaccine is better when it is given at an earlier age.
How HPV is spread
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is very common with as many as half the population infected with HPV some time in their lives.
You can catch it through intimate sexual contact with another person who already has the virus.
There are over 100 types of HPV but only 13 of them are known to cause cancer.
There are usually no symptoms, so many won’t realise they are infected.
Most of the time, the virus does not cause cancer.
This is because it is killed off by the body’s immune system, but not always.
Some infections persist and lead to cancer or genital warts - this is why the vaccine is so important.
Having the vaccine
In previous years, young people needed two injections of the vaccine.
However, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has reviewed the scientific evidence about the doses of the HPV vaccine.
There is now strong evidence that one dose of the vaccine provides the same protection as two doses.
Since 1 September 2023, all eligible young people in Northern Ireland will be offered one dose of the HPV vaccine.
Young people who have already received one dose are now considered to be fully vaccinated and do not require a second dose of the HPV vaccine.
Your school health team will arrange for you to have the vaccination in Year 9 at school.
You will also be offered the vaccine in Year 10 if you didn’t receive it the year before. The nurse will give you the vaccination in your upper arm.
If you suffer from asthma, eczema, hay fever or other allergies, you can still have the vaccine. If you have any concerns about this, speak to the nurse before having the vaccine.
Parental consent
Parents or guardians of girls and boys aged under 16 should give their consent before vaccination.
You give consent by signing and returning the consent form to your child’s school.
You and your child can ask the school for more information about the vaccine.
If your child is between 12 and 16 years of age, the final decision to have the vaccine is legally your child’s as long as they understand the issues in giving consent.
Girls and boys aged 16 and over can consent to get the vaccine, if they are in the eligible group for the vaccination programme, unless they don’t understand what’s involved in giving consent.
Getting the HPV vaccine
The vaccine is offered routinely, through a school-based programme, to all males and females aged 12 to 13 years (school Year 9).
If you have been eligible for the vaccine but have not received it in school, you can still receive it free of charge until the age of 25, if you ask your doctor.
If you have not received the vaccine and believe the HPV vaccine could be helpful, you can discuss this with your GP. They may prescribe the vaccine for you.
Side effects of the HPV vaccine
The side effects of the vaccination are quite mild – usually just soreness, swelling and redness in the arm, which soon wears off.
Other less common side effects may include:
These can be treated with paracetamol or ibuprofen.
Rarely, some people have a reaction soon after the injection, like a rash. The nurse will know how to treat this. It is not a reason not to have more injections for HPV or other diseases.
Severe allergic reactions are rare and nurses are trained to deal with them. People recover completely with treatment, usually within a few hours.
The vaccine meets the rigorous safety standards required for it to be used in the UK and other European countries.
Millions of doses of vaccine have already been given in the UK and around the world.
As with all vaccines, reports of side effects are closely monitored and reviewed.
How long the HPV vaccine protects you
As the HPV vaccine does not protect against all types of HPV that can cause cervical cancer, it's important that all girls who receive the HPV vaccine also have regular cervical screening once they reach the age of 25.