The vaccine works in the same way as other vaccinations. It pushes the body to produce HPV antibodies, which fight off future encounters with HPV. These antibodies bind to the virus to prevent it from infecting cells.

No. The vaccine does not cure HPV but is used as a preventative measure should you become exposed to the virus.

There is no current cure for HPV.

The HPV vaccine is offered to young boys and girls aged 12 and 13 as part of the NHS vaccination programme. Another variation of the HPV vaccine is offered to gay, bisexual, and men who have sex with men (MSM) up to 45 years of age.

Those who should get vaccinated against HPV are:

• MSM, gay, or bisexual men.
• Some transgender people, such as trans-women, if their risk is similar to the risk of MSM, and trans-men if they have sex with other men and are aged 45 years or younger.
• Anyone who may be of an increased risk of getting HPV, such as those with multiple partners.
• People who missed their HPV vaccination in school.

Those who should not get vaccinated against HPV are:

• Pregnant women
• Those who have had a severe allergic reaction to the first dose of the HPV vaccine.

You should delay getting your HPV vaccine if you are generally unwell at the time.

HPV vaccines are amongst the most effective vaccines available today.

Before the vaccine was introduced, 40 % of women between the ages of 20-24 had high-risk types of HPV. Since it’s introduction to UK schoolchildren in 2007, there has been an 86% decrease in HPV 16 and 18 in women aged 16-21 in England.

The best time for someone to receive HPV vaccine is in their early teen years. This is why HPV vaccine is being given to 12-13 years old girls and boys because:

• This is the time before they become sexually active
• This is when their immune system is very responsive to the HPV vaccine

The vaccine is most effective in the first 10 years after vaccination, which coincides with their phase of life when they are most likely to get infected.

Although HPV vaccine has the best outcomes when given before one becomes sexually active, the vaccine should offer protection at any age of life.

• The vaccine will protect against the types of HPV you have not yet been exposed to.
• The HPV vaccine will also gives some degree of cross-protection to other types.

Yes. You can still be vaccinated as it will prevent you from becoming exposed to other types of HPV.

The vaccine provides protection against HPV types 6 and 11, which are responsible for 90% of genital warts. Evidence suggests a reduction in diagnoses of genital warts after routinely offering the vaccine, but the vaccine itself is designed to prevent cancers, not genital warts.

Yes. It is worth considering a jab with 9-strain HPV vaccine which can serve as a booster as well helps in offering protection against additional 5 high risk strains of the virus.

The effect of the HPV vaccine is expected to last for 10 years, and probably for much longer although there is no clear evidence if that is the case. Currently there is no recommendation for a routine booster but a booster 10 years after the primary course of vaccination may be considered in individual cases.

No. Our routine vaccine protects against the following types: 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, 58. The vaccine routinely offered by the NHS protects against the following types 6,11,16 and 18.

You can get the HPV vaccine at:

• NHS funded health care providers, such as GP’s and vaccination centres
• Clarewell Clinics
• School, if you are 12 to 13 years old
• Sexual health clinics

Very common side effects of the HPV vaccine are headaches and bruising, swelling, or pain at the injection site. These side effects resolve within a few days.

Common side effects are bruising and itching at the injection site, a high temperature, nausea, and pain in the arms, hangs, fingers, legs, and feet or toes.

Rare side effects are hives and difficulty breathing.

Very rarely, some people can experience an allergic reaction to the HPV vaccine which begins suddenly after the vaccination has happened. Please call 999.

Yes. The vaccine is not a replacement for regular cervical and anal cancer screening. Screening is an important measure of spotting any changes to cells that are being made as a result of a HPV infection, and allows for these abnormal cells to be removed before they progress into cancer.

You should also be screened for HPV if you are of high risk (such women over 25 years of age, and trans men who still have a cervix).