Development of the HPV vaccine

It has taken many years to develop a vaccine to protect against the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).

A vaccine is a way of making the body’s immune system produce antibodies that will fight off a virus. Cervical screening can detect cell changes, but can’t prevent infection in the first place.

Clinical trials are studies that are performed to assess if a new vaccine works well and is safe to use. Thousands of girls and women of different ages took part in the clinical trials of the new vaccine against HPV.

These trials found that the vaccine offers nearly 100% protection against infection with the high-risk types of HPV in girls who haven’t previously been infected with the virus. Also, no serious side effects were seen.

Immunisation can prevent girls getting HPV types 16 and 18, the most common cause of cervical cancer, for at least six years – this figure is based on the length of the trials. It is expected the vaccine will last even longer, probably more than 20 years.

Find out more about the clinical trials and how the vaccine works.

HPV vaccines are licensed for use in countries around the world. Millions of girls have already had HPV jabs in the United States, Australia and other countries.

The European Medicines Agency has licensed the vaccine for girls aged 10-25 in Scotland and the rest of Europe.

In Scotland, the HPV immunisation programme began on 1 September 2008. This followed advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (the independent expert body which advises the UK Government, the Scottish Government and other devolved administrations). The vaccine is offered routinely to girls in their second year of secondary school (S2), who are aged 12-13. In addition, there is a one-off three-year catch-up campaign, which offers the HPV vaccine to older girls.

England (external link), Wales (external link) and Northern Ireland (external link) started their HPV immunisation programmes in 2008 too.