HPV vaccination

The HPV vaccine has been approved for use. A vaccine can only be used if tests show: 

-it is safe and effective 
-the benefits outweigh any risks. 

These tests are called clinical trials and involve thousands of people having the vaccine. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) was responsible for looking at the data from the trials. The data showed the HPV vaccine is safe. The EMA approved a license for Gardasil to be used in the UK in 2006 and Gardasil 9 in 2015. 

Between 2008 and 2019, more than 10 million doses of the HPV vaccine were given in the UK. The HPV vaccine’s safety is monitored by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

There is a chance that the HPV vaccine may cause some mild side effects such as pain in the arm where the injection has been given. But most people who have the vaccine have no side effects at all.

If you feel very ill after having the HPV vaccine, do speak to a nurse or doctor straight away. 

Common side effects:
More than 1 in 10 people who have the HPV vaccine report having: 
-pain, redness or swelling where the injection is given 
-a headache. 
 
Any pain, redness or swelling should get better after a few days. If you have a headache, it shouldn’t last for more than a few hours. 

Other side effects 
Less than 1 in 10 people who have the HPV vaccine report having: 
-bruising or itching where the injection was given 
-painful arms, hands, fingers, legs feet or toes 
-a high temperature or feeling hot and shivery (fever) 
-sickness (nausea).

Uncommon side effects 
Less than 1 in 100 people who have the vaccine report having: 
-swollen glands 
-an itchy red rash (hives) 
-unusual tiredness 
-generally feeling unwell.
 
Rare side effects 
Less than 1 in 1,000 people who have the HPV vaccine have: 
-an allergic reaction. 
 
Very rare side effects 
Less than 1 in 10,000 people who have the HPV vaccine have: 
-difficulty breathing.
 
Other side effects:
Feeling dizzy or fainting. It is not unusual for people to feel faint before or after having the HPV vaccine. This is often because people feel nervous about having the injection, rather than being caused by the HPV vaccine itself. It can help to sit down for about 15 minutes after having the vaccine.  
Severe allergic reactions (called anaphylaxis). It is rare to have a severe allergic reaction to the HPV vaccine. The nurses are fully trained to deal with them. The Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS) says the risk is about 1.7 severe allergic reactions for every 1 million doses. 

If you have any side effects after having the HPV vaccine, tell your doctor or nurse. 

You can report any side effects that you think may be linked to the HPV vaccine using the Yellow Card Scheme. The scheme is run by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).  

Most people will be able to have the HPV vaccine. You may not be able to have the vaccine if: 
-You had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of the HPV vaccine 
-You had a severe allergic reaction to any ingredient of the vaccine (listed here)
-You are pregnant. There isn’t any evidence that the vaccine is harmful if you are pregnant. But, you might be advised to wait until you are no longer pregnant to have the vaccine. 
 
If you feel very unwell or have a high temperature on the day you are having the HPV vaccine, you should have it on another day instead. This is to avoid confusing the illness with any side effects. 

If you are unsure about whether you or a child should have the HPV vaccine, you can speak with the school nurse, or a nurse or doctor at your GP surgery. You can also speak to our Ask Eve Nurses for free and confidential advice.

The number of doses you need depends on your age and how well your immune system works.
-people under 25 usually have one dose
-people aged 25 to 45 usually have two doses. They are given between six months and two years apart.
-people with a weakened immune system have three doses. They are given over a 12-month period.

The HPV vaccine cannot get rid of HPV you already have. It is used to prevent HPV.

The HPV vaccine cannot cure or treat conditions caused by HPV, including: 
-genital warts caused by low-risk HPV types 
-cervical cell changes or cancer caused by high-risk HPV types. 
 
You can get treatment for genital warts at a sexual health clinic. If you have cervical cell changes or cervical cancer, your healthcare team will explain any treatment you need. You can find more information on cervical cell changes here.

Cervical screening is still important even if you have had the vaccine. The HPV vaccine does not protect you against all types of HPV. It protects against the types of HPV that cause around 7 in 10 cervical cancers. Going for cervical screening when invited can help find high-risk HPV or changes to cervical cells early. These can then be treated or monitored to help prevent cervical cancer.

It is usually given in school year 8 in England and Wales, S1 in Scotland, and school year 9 in Northern Ireland.

You should have been given a consent form and leaflet by your school. They may be in digital or paper format. Your parent or guardian is asked to sign the consent form, but you can do it yourself. The nurse or doctor doing the vaccination will talk you through it fully. They will help you understand what it is and what will happen. It’s a good idea to read the information and talk to someone you trust before making a decision.

Once your consent form has been signed, you will be asked to return it to your school. You will need to send it back whether or not you are having the vaccine.

We know lots of people get nervous about injections. It may help to know that the injection is over quickly. Here are some tips that might help: 
-Talk to the nurse or a teacher. They can give you some extra support. 
-Eat breakfast if the vaccination will be happening in the morning.
-Wear a short sleeved top if you can.
-Ask to have a friend with you for some support. 
-Ask to have the HPV vaccine early in the day. Then you don’t have to wait for a long time. 
-Have a bottle of water with you and take regular, small sips. 

The HPV vaccine is offered in schools at a young age because: 
-the immune response to the vaccine is stronger when people are younger  
-it is more effective before someone is exposed to HPV through sexual activity.
 
Some parents and guardians are worried that their child is more likely to become sexually active if they have the HPV vaccine. There is no evidence that this happens. 

Since September 2019, boys have been offered the HPV vaccine in schools at the same time as girls. The vaccine will help protect them against genital warts and some cancers. These include some head and neck cancers, anal and penile cancer. 

There is limited research on the benefits of the HPV vaccine for people over 25. The research we do have suggests there is some benefit. Although it is more likely you will have been exposed to HPV, you may not have the types that the vaccine protects against.

Men born after September 2006 who missed out on the vaccine at school can have it for free up to 25 years old. You can get the vaccine until you are 25 at your GP surgery. Men who have sex with men are eligible up to the age of 45. You can get the vaccine until 45 at sexual health clinics.

The vaccine may help protect your partner against HPV. But, they might already have HPV or have had it and their immune system cleared it.