Who will be offered the vaccine?

The HPV vaccine is offered routinely to all 12–13 year old girls (Year 9), to protect them against their future risk of cervical cancer. It is a school-based programme and a school health team from your local Health and Social Care Trust will give the vaccinations.

What if a Year 9 girl misses out on receiving her vaccine at school?

If a girl misses one or more doses of the vaccine in Year 9, she will be contacted by the school health team in Year 10 to receive or complete the vaccination. This should happen automatically, but if you haven't heard anything by the end of September, you might want to check with the school nurse just to make sure.

Girls who still haven't been vaccinated by the end of Year 10 should contact their GP to arrange it.

What about older girls?

Any girl starting Year 10 who has missed some or all of the three doses of vaccine should be contacted by the school health team to receive them.

Girls in Years 11 to 14 who have not completed their vaccination will need to contact their GP to arrange it.

What about HPV vaccination for those aged 18 and over?

The vaccine is not currently being offered to those aged 18 and over, but this will be kept under review by the DHSSPS. If a girl over 18 believes that HPV vaccination could be beneficial to her, she can seek advice from her GP as to whether it is clinically appropriate for her to be vaccinated. Her GP may prescribe the vaccine if there is exceptional clinical need.

Also, cervical screening will be available as normal through the Northern Ireland cervical screening programme. This begins when women are aged 25 (see the leaflet Cervical screening: it's best to take the test).

How will the vaccination be given?

The person giving the routine vaccination or catch-up vaccination will be fully qualified to do this and will know how to deal with any problems that may arise. The vaccine will be given in the upper arm by a nurse or doctor. For the vaccine to work, three injections will be needed within a six month period. It’s important that girls have all three injections within no more than 12 months to get the best protection.

Is the HPV vaccine safe?

Yes, the vaccine meets the rigorous safety standards required for it to be used in the UK and other European countries.

What about girls who have allergies or other medical conditions, can they still have the HPV vaccination?

Yes. Food intolerances, asthma, eczema, hay fever, and allergies generally do not prevent someone from having this vaccine. If you have any concerns about this, speak to the school health team or your GP.

Girls whose immune systems are affected through medication or long-term conditions can have the vaccine, but the vaccine may not work as well for them.

Will the vaccine affect any other medication?

There is no evidence that the vaccination reduces the effectiveness of any medication or the contraceptive pill.

Consent

Why are parents of 12–13 year old girls being asked to sign consent forms?

As with other forms of healthcare consent will be sought before the vaccine is given.

What if a girl’s parents don’t want her to have the vaccination?

Parents of girls under 16 should discuss this with their daughter and seek advice from the school health team, however the decision is legally hers as long as she understands the issues in giving consent.

Girls over 16 years of age are presumed to be capable of consenting themselves unless there are specific reasons otherwise.

What if a girl doesn’t want to have the vaccination?

She doesn’t have to have it, if she doesn’t want to. But it is recommended that she does for the reasons given on this website. Having the vaccination now will protect her for many years.

Other issues

What if a girl in the target group has already been sexually active?

If a girl has been sexually active, there is a possibility that she may have already caught HPV. However, as it won’t be known which type of the virus she may have been infected with, she should still have the vaccine as it may still protect her.

Why will a smear test still be needed later?

Cervical screening (smear test) will continue to be essential to detect changes in the cervix caused by the types of HPV that this vaccine does not protect against. From the age of 25 women will be invited for screening as normal. 

What about pregnancy?

There is no known risk associated with giving HPV vaccine during pregnancy. However, as a matter of precaution, HPV vaccine is not recommended in pregnancy. This is not because of any specific safety concerns with giving HPV vaccine during pregnancy but because there is limited information on using the vaccine during pregnancy. If a girl finds out she is pregnant soon after she has been given HPV vaccine, this should be discussed with her GP.

Why aren’t boys being vaccinated?

The purpose of this campaign is to protect girls and women against cervical cancer. Obviously, boys do not get cervical cancer, but they still need to know about safer sex to reduce the risk of them catching and spreading HPV.