HPV vaccination - Who can use it 

HPV vaccination programme 

The HPV vaccination (also known as the cervical cancer jab) is part of the national vaccination programme and is given in secondary schools to girls aged 12 to 13. This age-group is typically in year 8 in schools in England. There is also a three-year "catch-up" programme in place, which started in September 2008, for girls aged 14 to 17.

From September 2009, girls who were 16 or 17 should have been offered the vaccine. From September 2010, girls aged 15 to 17 should have been offered the vaccine. Some primary care trusts are running ahead of this schedule.  

By the end of the catch-up programme, which should be complete by September 2011, all girls aged 12–17 should have been offered the HPV vaccine. At the moment, women aged 18 or over are not routinely offered a vaccination against HPV. 
 
Tell your GP if you (or your child) are having the vaccination and have:

  • a condition that makes them bleed more than normal, such as thrombocytopenia; it may be possible to use a different type of injection for these people
  • a weakened immune system (for example, as a result of a health condition such as HIV or AIDS), as the vaccine may not be as effective for these people

If these conditions affect you, it does not mean that you cannot have the HPV vaccine, it simply means that extra care may need to be taken.

Who should not be vaccinated

As with any medicine or vaccine, the HPV vaccine should not be used if you have had:

  • a confirmed anaphylactic reaction (severe allergic reaction) to any of its ingredients
  • a confirmed anaphylactic reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine

If you are due to have the vaccine and you have a severe illness with a high temperature (fever), the vaccination should be delayed. This is because symptoms of the illness may be confused with side effects from the vaccine, and this could result in the wrong diagnosis being made.

However, there is no reason to delay vaccination for a mild illness, such as the common cold, which does not cause a fever or systemic upset (symptoms affecting the entire body).

Pregnancy and breastfeeding 

There are no known risks associated with having the HPV vaccine while pregnant. However, it is not recommended because the vaccine's safety has not been tested in pregnant women.

If you start the HPV vaccination programme and then find out that you are pregnant, you are advised to complete the HPV vaccination course after your pregnancy. If you are breastfeeding, ask your GP for advice before having the HPV vaccination.  

Last reviewed: 23/09/2010

Next review due: 23/09/2012

Comments

7 Comments

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Comments are personal views. Any information they give has not been checked and may not be accurate.

starsspots said on 21 March 2012

f you are a virgin over the age of 18, surely it's still worth having the vaccine? Is this an option?

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gemmadianne said on 12 September 2010

I completely agree with comments on the ridiculous age constraints on this vaccine. I am almost 21 now and when I first heard about this vaccine being introduced I thought it was wonderful. However when the scheme was introduced I was too old to be able to get it - by 6 months!!! I wasn't sexually active at the time but now I am so there is the risk I may have been exposed to HPV. I feel completely let down by the NHS for not giving me the chance of being protected when id always had such good opinions before.

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Grace Filby said on 09 September 2010

In answer to enjee's question about the ingredients, 06 August 2010, I found that there is a section of NHS Choices that lists the ingredients:

http://nhs.medguides.medicines.org.uk/nhs/medicine.aspx?name=Cervarix&use=Vaccinations (all)&preparation=1§ion=ingredients

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peteslez said on 26 August 2010

May I first of all point out that the vaccine for HPV IS available to virgins. Just those under 18 though. Secondly it is available to those who are not virgins, so long as they are under 18. Those over 18 can protect themselves by using barrier contrraception. My query is why it is thought sensible to only vaccinate to 18 and only screen from 25 and leave 18-25 year olds unscreened and unvaccinated when the UK government web site clearly shows that though CIN and cervical cancer are falling in most age groups they were increasing in 20-29 for CIN and cervical cancer to age 39 when in 2004 smears for 20-25 year olds were stopped. Isn't it time to vaccinate the under 25s? As for whether the vaccine contains mercury or aluminium, as these are toxic to humans the vaccine could not be manufactured and contain such! More importantly it is the under 30s who are getting increasing CIN and cervical cancer because of earlier sexual activity, more sexual partners and less screening. Vaccinate or accept responsibility for not doing so is probably the only thing one can say in answer to the idea that toxins may be contained in the vaccine.

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enjee said on 06 August 2010

but they haven't said what the ingredients are! I want to know what's in it before my daughter has it - especially if there is mercury or aluminium in it.

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becks9 said on 22 August 2009

I totally agree. I think it is appalling how the vaccine is not available to virgins of any age on the NHS. It is mindless to vaccinate only a group of people according to their age, whether or not they may actually benefit from the vaccine, as some girls under 18 may already be sexually active and may have been exposed to the virus. I am a virgin in my 30s and I inquired about having the vaccine only to be told the same thing, that I don't qualify as I don't fit into the age category. I was told the only way I could have it was to go private. I knew this was going to be costly but I decided to do it anyway. It cost me £300 for the 3 vaccines, but I do not regret it as I felt why should I not have the treatment that I am eligible for, if it can help me in the future, just because I don't fit into the correct age group. If it is something you could consider, I would advise you to ask your GP about having the vaccine for you daughter done privately. They write a prescription which you get from the chemist and then you have to store the vaccines at home and bring them to your local GP where they give you the vaccines in a series up to six months. I thought it would be harder to get it done privately as I thought there would be waiting lists for private clinics but it was good that it could be done straight away once you make the decision. It is something worth considering as the NHS don't seem to be making any allowances for age in this screening program. I think this is ridiculous as it should be available to any girl or woman who has not been sexually active whatever their age and not just be an assumption of society and the health service that no one aged over 18 is a virgin. Good luck.

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Mabling said on 18 August 2009

My eldest daughter is in her early twenties. She has never had sex, as she's never been out with a boy she felt strongly enough about, and she feels she wants to wait for the right man, which, in this day and age, is admirable - however, she is being denied the HPV vaccine, because she 'doesn't fit into the age range'! What kind of an idiotic rule is this? Here is a vaccine that could, potentially, save my daughter's life! She is perfect for it, having obviously never come into contact with HPV, but because she's over 19, she can't have it! Having looked on the website, I find it totally unbelievable that the vaccine is being given to girls who are sexually active and may have already been infected, so it's a complete waste of time and money, but my daughter is denied it! She works, and is a tax payer, so she's paying for the NHS with her contributions, but she's not allowed to have a life saving vaccine. This country has truly gone mad!

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