Arm Against Cervical Cancer

HPV Vaccination for girls

Aged 16 to 19? Left school? You can now have the HPV vaccination at your doctor's surgery

HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) is a very common sexually transmitted infection which most women will have at some point in the life. Most HPV infections clear up by themselves, but in some people the infection can last a long time and can develop into cervical cancer.

All girls aged 12-19 are being offered the vaccine. Girls who are still at school will be given the jab by their school nurse. If you've left school and are at college or at work, you can have the jab free from your doctor.

Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women aged 20-29 and the HPV vaccine protects against the types of virus that cause more than 70% of cervical cancers. Having the HPV vaccine will protect you from picking up the virus in the first place.

Text service

To be fully protected you need to have 3 injections over a 6 month period. This means you need to go back for another two vaccinations within 6 months of having the first one.

The NHS know it can be hard to remember when your vaccinations are due so they are offering a free text reminder. All you have to do is text HPV and the date of your first injection (ddmmyy) to 64746.