This information is relevant to parents and carers of boys and girls from year 8 or S1
Help protect their future from certain HPV‑related cancers
(HPV: human papillomavirus)
Schools near you are taking part in the free HPV NHS vaccination programme, available to all children from year 8 or S1.
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Why help protect their future from certain HPV-related cancers?
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is common and spreads easily. The virus moves from person to person through close skin-to-skin contact. Although most HPV infections go away on their own, some types may cause infections that increase the risk of certain HPV-related cancers.
The HPV NHS national vaccination programme is available for free in schools so that boys and girls can protect themselves, and others, against certain HPV-related cancers, such as anal cancer and cervical cancer.
HPV is a group of viruses that may cause diseases in adulthood, like certain cancers and pre-cancerous cell changes.
HPV-related cancers develop when the immune system can’t clear up infections caused by types of high-risk HPV.
Vaccination can help reduce the risk of your child developing certain HPV-related cancers in the future, by protecting them against types of high-risk HPV.
What does the research say?
A study estimated that cervical cancer rates have been reduced by almost 90% in women in their 20s who were offered HPV vaccination between 12 and 13 years of age in England, compared with an unvaccinated population.
Around 4 out of 5 of us may be infected at some point in our lives.
Why can HPV infections put people at risk?
Many people don’t know they are infected with HPV because infections don’t usually cause any symptoms and most clear up on their own.
HPV types 16 and 18 are examples of high-risk viruses and cause most cases of anal cancer and cervical cancer. If a high-risk HPV infection is not cleared by the body, they increase the risk of developing certain HPV-related cancers.
Eligibility calculator
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Is my child eligible?
All children from year 8 are eligible for free HPV vaccination at school as part of the NHS national vaccination programme.
Do you feel informed enough to speak to your school vaccination team about your child taking part in the free NHS national vaccination programme?
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Please speak to your healthcare professional if you’d like more information about the HPV NHS National Vaccination Programme.
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Please speak to your healthcare professional if you’d like more information about the HPV NHS National Vaccination Programme.
Thank you for your feedback.
Please speak to your healthcare professional if you’d like more information about the HPV NHS National Vaccination Programme.
If you get any side effects with any medicines, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the medicines package leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk or by searching for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of medicines. By clicking the above link, you will leave the MSD website and be taken to the MHRA website.
Thank you for your feedback. Please speak to your healthcare professional if you’d like more information about the HPV NHS National Vaccination Programme.
If you get any side effects with any medicines, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the medicines package leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk or by searching for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of medicines. By clicking the above link, you will leave the MSD website and be taken to the MHRA website.
Thank you for your feedback. Please speak to your healthcare professional if you’d like more information about the HPV NHS National Vaccination Programme.
Thank you for your feedback.
Please speak to your healthcare professional if you’d like more information about the HPV NHS National Vaccination Programme.
Thank you for your feedback.
Please speak to your healthcare professional if you’d like more information about the HPV NHS National Vaccination Programme.
What would you like more information about?
Thank you for your feedback.
Please speak to your healthcare professional if you’d like more information about the HPV NHS National Vaccination Programme.
Thank you for your feedback.
Please speak to your healthcare professional if you’d like more information about the HPV NHS National Vaccination Programme.
If you get any side effects with any medicines, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the medicines package leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk or by searching for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of medicines. By clicking the above link, you will leave the MSD website and be taken to the MHRA website.
Thank you for your feedback. Please speak to your healthcare professional if you’d like more information about the HPV NHS National Vaccination Programme.
If you get any side effects with any medicines, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the medicines package leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk or by searching for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of medicines. By clicking the above link, you will leave the MSD website and be taken to the MHRA website.
Thank you for your feedback. Please speak to your healthcare professional if you’d like more information about the HPV NHS National Vaccination Programme.
Thank you for your feedback.
Please speak to your healthcare professional if you’d like more information about the HPV NHS National Vaccination Programme.
Thank you for your feedback.
Please speak to your healthcare professional if you’d like more information about the HPV NHS National Vaccination Programme.
Don’t forget about the consent form!
The free NHS HPV national vaccination programme is available to boys and girls aged from 12-13 in the UK. Regardless of your vaccination decision, please remember to sign and return the consent form to your child’s school.
Over 80% of anal cancers worldwide are caused by HPV types 16 and 18
Most HPV infections don’t cause symptoms and clear up within two years.
Over 75% of cervical cancers worldwide are caused by HPV types 16 and 18.
An infection caused by a high-risk HPV can take more than 15 years to cause HPV cancer.
True or false
Your responses are anonymous. Your personal data will not be collected or stored.
Do you feel informed enough to speak to your school vaccination team about your child taking part in the free NHS national vaccination programme?
Thank you for your feedback.
Please speak to your healthcare professional if you’d like more information about the HPV NHS National Vaccination Programme.
What would you like more information about?
Thank you for your feedback.
Please speak to your healthcare professional if you’d like more information about the HPV NHS National Vaccination Programme.
Thank you for your feedback.
Please speak to your healthcare professional if you’d like more information about the HPV NHS National Vaccination Programme.
If you get any side effects with any medicines, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the medicines package leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk or by searching for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of medicines. By clicking the above link, you will leave the MSD website and be taken to the MHRA website.
Thank you for your feedback. Please speak to your healthcare professional if you’d like more information about the HPV NHS National Vaccination Programme.
If you get any side effects with any medicines, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the medicines package leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk or by searching for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of medicines. By clicking the above link, you will leave the MSD website and be taken to the MHRA website.
Thank you for your feedback. Please speak to your healthcare professional if you’d like more information about the HPV NHS National Vaccination Programme.
Thank you for your feedback.
Please speak to your healthcare professional if you’d like more information about the HPV NHS National Vaccination Programme.
Thank you for your feedback.
Please speak to your healthcare professional if you’d like more information about the HPV NHS National Vaccination Programme.
What would you like more information about?
Thank you for your feedback.
Please speak to your healthcare professional if you’d like more information about the HPV NHS National Vaccination Programme.
Thank you for your feedback.
Please speak to your healthcare professional if you’d like more information about the HPV NHS National Vaccination Programme.
If you get any side effects with any medicines, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the medicines package leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk or by searching for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of medicines. By clicking the above link, you will leave the MSD website and be taken to the MHRA website.
Thank you for your feedback. Please speak to your healthcare professional if you’d like more information about the HPV NHS National Vaccination Programme.
If you get any side effects with any medicines, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the medicines package leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk or by searching for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of medicines. By clicking the above link, you will leave the MSD website and be taken to the MHRA website.
Thank you for your feedback. Please speak to your healthcare professional if you’d like more information about the HPV NHS National Vaccination Programme.
Thank you for your feedback.
Please speak to your healthcare professional if you’d like more information about the HPV NHS National Vaccination Programme.
Thank you for your feedback.
Please speak to your healthcare professional if you’d like more information about the HPV NHS National Vaccination Programme.
A Personal Journey with Cervical Cancer
In this video we sit down with a cervical cancer survivor to understand her experience of having HPV.
For more information about HPV:
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How to protect their future from HPV?
Boys and girls aged from 12 years (11 in Scotland) are offered HPV vaccination at school as part of the NHS National Vaccination Programme. Look out for more information from your child’s school. If your child missed out on their vaccination in year 8, they may still be eligible to receive it. Check your child’s eligibility here.
If you would like any further information about the HPV NHS national vaccination programme, or if you think your child has missed their vaccination, please speak to your school nurse or other healthcare professional.
HPV transmission and vaccination safety
HPV vaccination also helps reduce the spread of types of HPV from one person to another during close skin-to-skin contact.
The long-term safety profile of HPV vaccination has been well studied in millions of people worldwide.
HPV vaccination data is closely monitored to ensure it continues to be suitable for use.
GB-GSL-00716 | Date of Preparation: December 2024
Reporting of side effects: If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the package leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
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