The human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine is given on its own and is not combined with other vaccines. If your child is 12 to 13 years old, you will usually receive information about the vaccination schedule and a consent form before your child has the HPV vaccine. If your child is older, they may be able to consent or refuse the vaccination themselves, so you may not receive a consent form.
The vaccination schedule
The HPV vaccine will be given as an injection into the muscle of the upper arm or thigh (upper leg). The vaccination consists of three doses and all three injections are needed to ensure full protection against the virus.
The second injection will be given one to two months after the first injection and the third injection will be given about six months after the first. All three doses should be given within a 12-month period.
In some circumstances it may be possible for the vaccination schedule to be more flexible. For example, if the third dose of the HPV vaccine falls during the exam period, it may be possible to have the vaccine slightly earlier. Your GP will be able to give you more information about this.
