HPV - we need more jabs for lads

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common virus with many different types. Some of these are linked to certain types of cancers.

teenager receiving injection

That’s why there’s a vaccine available to help protect people against getting the virus. Girls have been offered this vaccine since 2008.

That’s changing in the UK this school year. For the first time, some boys will be offered the vaccine too. This is an important step forward to help protect more people against cancers related to HPV – whatever your gender.

But only boys aged 11-13 this school year, and all boys this age in future years, will be offered the vaccine. That means a million boys in school will miss out on this protection from the vaccination, unless they can pay £150.

We don’t think this is right. That’s why we’re calling on the NHS to make sure the vaccine is available for the boys who will currently miss out, for free on the NHS, if they request it.