Medical conditions and allergies
The nurse will ask about any allergies, illnesses and medical conditions. Food intolerances, asthma, eczema, hay fever and most allergies shouldn’t stop someone having the HPV vaccine.
The nurse needs to know about other recent jabs and what medication a girl is taking, especially if it suppresses the immune system. The vaccine is safe for girls whose immune systems may not be fully working because of long-term conditions or medication, but it may not work as well for them.
There’s no evidence that the HPV vaccine reduces the effectiveness of any other medication.
Who shouldn’t have the vaccine?
Girls shouldn’t have the vaccine if they’re allergic to any of the ingredients. For details on the ingredients please visit the Patient Information Leaflet on the Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC).
Anyone who has an anaphylactic reaction to their first HPV jab shouldn’t have the other two doses.
As a precaution, it is recommended that pregnant women do not have the HPV immunisation. Girls will not be tested for pregnancy before the immunisation, but if a girl suspects she might be pregnant she should discuss it with the nurse or a doctor.
Experience, so far, shows that there is no evidence the HPV vaccine will harm her or her baby. In the vaccine trials, women who were inadvertently immunised while pregnant, or shortly before becoming pregnant, were no more likely to have problems with their pregnancies than women who did not receive the HPV vaccine. Once she has completed her pregnancy, she can finish the three-dose course of the HPV vaccine. If you have any concerns or queries speak to your nurse or doctor.
Find out more about clinical trials of the HPV vaccine.
