HPV vaccine – protect teenagers against cervical cancer and genital warts

This post tells you about the HPV vaccines that we offer to protect teenagers against cervical cancer and genital warts. These are caused by the human papilloma virus, so one vaccine gives protection against both.

What is HPV?

There are more than 100 different types of HPV, and around 40 types that affect the genital area.

It is very common and can be caught through any kind of sexual contact with another person who already has it.

But some people infected with some  type of HPV won’t be able to clear it. Over time, this can cause abnormal tissue growth as well as other changes in the cells of their cervix, which can lead to cervical cancer if it is not treated. It can also cause genital warts.

Approximately 70% to 75% of vaginal cancer cases, 30% of vulvar cancer cases, and 85% to 90% of anal cancer cases are HPV related.

Who can be vaccinated on the NHS?

All girls can get the HPV vaccine free from the NHS from the age of 12 up to their 18th birthday.

It helps protect them against cervical cancer, which is the most common cancer in women under 35 in the UK.

In England, girls aged 12 to 13 years are routinely offered the first HPV vaccination when they’re in school year 8. The second dose is normally offered 6 to 12 months after the first.

What is the difference between NHS and private treatment?

The NHS vaccine protects against four strains of HPV. The Gardasil 9 vaccination, available in our pharmacies, protects against nine different strains of HPV. This vaccine is available for boys as well as girls. We offer this vaccine from 11 to 26 years of age.  Click here for further details or book an appointment to have this vaccine at one of our pharmacies