I'm eligible

You will be invited to receive the HPV vaccine from September 2009.

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.