I'm eligible

Scotland’s Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) immunisation programme is routinely for girls in their second year of secondary school (S2) aged 12 to 13. You will qualify for the immunisation if you are in your second year of secondary school (S2).

Girls in Scotland who have left school and will be under 19 years of age on 1 September 2009 are also being invited to receive the HPV vaccine to help protect themselves against cervical cancer. You will be contacted by your local NHS.

Clinical trials of the vaccine have shown it works best before HPV infection occurs, offering almost 100% protection against the most high risk types of the virus. It is important to get this protection early, as the rate of HPV infection starts to rise from 14 years of age.

Having the immunisation in their teens will ensure girls get the maximum benefit from the vaccine and will be protected from the most common causes of cervical cancer for many years.

Find out more about trials of the HPV vaccine.

HPV is very common and is mainly passed on by having sexually intimate skin-to-skin contact with someone who has the virus.

Postponing immunisation until girls are older and more likely to have started a sexual relationship means they could already have HPV and won’t get the maximum benefit of the vaccine.