The Government has announced changes to the HPV vaccine. The update, which takes effect from Friday, April 1, is based on advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
The vaccine helps to prevent HPV (human papillomavirus) infection, which can cause genital warts and HPV-associated cancers, such as cervical cancer, some other cancers of the genital areas and anus, along with some cancers of the head and neck. It is offered to girls and boys aged 12 and 13, but anyone who missed getting it at school can get it free on the NHS up until their 25th birthday.
There is also a HPV vaccination programme for gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men (MSM) up to 45 years of age, who attend sexual health or HIV clinics. The routine adolescent HPV vaccination programme that is offered to 12 to 13 year olds in school has been following a two-dose schedule since September 2014.
