What is the HPV vaccine and who can have it?

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common virus that most of us will have at some point in our lives. There are more than 200 types, each with its own number. 

HPV is a common virus with many different types. Most of the types are low-risk and cause warts and verrucas, including genital warts. Your body usually deals with it without you even knowing you have it. HPV spreads through close skin-to-skin contact, including any type of sexual activity with another person who has HPV. 

HPV has been closely linked to cervical cancer, with nearly all cervical cancers (99.7%) being caused by infection with a high-risk type of HPV. 

But these high-risk types of HPV are also linked to some other types of cancers, like anal cancer, vulval cancer, vaginal cancer, and cancer of the penis. 

The HPV vaccine aims to stop people getting some types of HPV, including most high-risk types of HPV that are linked to some cancers. 

Since September 2023, the vaccine is given through one injection for young people under 25. Before September 2023 the vaccine was given through two injections for under 25s, but research has shown that one injection gives you the same protection as two.  

The vaccine is offered to all 12- to 13-year-olds in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and 11 to 12 year-olds in Scotland. The vaccine is offered to this age group specifically as it’s much more effective when it’s had before becoming sexually active and being exposed to the virus. 

Cervical cancer rates for women now in their 20’s, who had the HPV vaccine at 12 or 13 years old, have reduced by 90%. 

Girls have been offered the HPV vaccine since 2008 and boys have been since the 2019-20 school year. 

The vaccine is an important step forward in helping protect more people against cancers related to HPV – whatever your gender. 

The vaccine protects boys against the HPV strains that can lead to head and neck cancer, anal cancer, and cancer of the penis. 

But boys having the vaccine will also help to reduce the number of cervical cancers in women even more, as men who have sex with women won’t pass some strains of the virus on. 

Vaccinating all young people against HPV will also increase something called ‘herd protection’. That’s when most people in the population are vaccinated against something, meaning people who are not vaccinated also get some protection too. 

The types of cancers linked to HPV aren’t common in young people. But it’s important that young people know about this vaccination, so they can act now to help protect themselves against cancers which could affect them when they’re older. 

There are currently three main HPV vaccination programmes in the UK: 

• Vaccinations in schools
• Vaccinations at GP surgeries for anyone under the age of 25 who missed out on the vaccination at school
• Vaccinations at specialist sexual health services and/or HIV clinics for gay and bisexual men who have sex with men under 45 years old Since the beginning of the 2019-20 school year all 12 and 13 year olds in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and 11 and 12 year olds in Scotland have been offered the HPV vaccine. 

Depending on where you are in the UK, the school year that the vaccine will be offered to you in might be different. If you’re not sure when you will get your vaccine you can always check with your school. You will get your HPV vaccine during the school day. 

If you miss your vaccine at school, then you can still have it for free on the NHS through your GP surgery up until you turn 25. This applies to girls born after 1 September 1991 and boys born after 1 September 2006.  

Gay and bisexual men who have sex with men and are under the age of 45 can ask for the vaccine as part of a routine check-up at a specialist sexual health or HIV clinic. 

Trans women (people who were assigned male at birth) can have the vaccine in the same way as gay and bisexual men who have sex with men, if their risk of HPV is similar. 

Trans men (people who were assigned female at birth) can also have the vaccine up until the age of 45 if they have sex with other men. Some trans men may have already had the vaccination as part of the girls’ programme. 

People who have the vaccine after the age of 25 are given two injections instead of one because older people don’t respond to two doses as well as younger people, so need an additional dose. 

Once you’ve had the vaccine you won’t need to have any ‘top up’ vaccinations later in life.  

Find out more about the HPV vaccine on The Eve Appeal’s website.

If anyone is not eligible for the vaccine, they can pay to have the injections until the age of 45. These can cost around £150 per injection, and often cost more. If you are over the age of 25 you will need to have two doses of the vaccine. 

If you miss your vaccine at school, then you can still have it for free on the NHS up until you turn 25. This applies to girls born after 1 September 1991 and boys born after 1 September 2006.  

You can speak to your GP if you’re thinking about having the HPV vaccine and would like to know more. 

If you are a young person with cancer, you might not be able to have the vaccine when you’re due to have it as part of the routine vaccination programme. 

If you are eligible for the vaccine this year, but you miss it because you are unwell, you will be able to have the catch-up jab up until the age of 25. You can speak to your care team if you have any questions about whether you’re eligible for the HPV vaccine.