HPV vaccine
If you are between 12 and 18 years old you can now get a vaccine to help protect you against cervical cancer called the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine. You may have heard about it on the radio, or seen advertisements on the television or in the newspapers. By having this vaccination, you will be protected against the common types of HPV that cause cervical cancer.
This is the first time a vaccination programme against cervical cancer has been provided in this country. This means there’s now the opportunity to prevent the spread of a very serious disease that affects over 3,000 women every year in the UK and causes over 1,000 deaths.
It’s important to know that even if you have already started having sex, it’s probably not too late have HPV vaccine and you should still accept the vaccine, if it’s offered to you.
You can find out more on the NHS Immunisation website where you can also find a scientific fact sheet on the virus, the disease and the vaccine, as well as links to other useful websites. You can also talk to the Practice Nurse or your GP about HPV or any sexual health concerns you might have.
By having the HPV vaccine you will be getting good protection for yourself and others from a very serious disease. However, to get the best possible protection, even if you have had HPV vaccine, you still need to go for a cervical cancer screening (smear test) when invited to by your GP surgery.
Getting your children vaccinated
Return to the Get the jab page
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