HPV stands for Human Papillomavirus. We provide the HPV Vaccine in Inverness. This vaccine is free for boys and girls aged 12 and 13 and is aimed at helping protect people against cancers caused by HPV, including:
– cervical cancer
– some mouth and throat (head and neck) cancers
– some cancers of the anal and genital areas
It also helps protect against genital warts.
What are the different types of HPV and what do they do?
There are more than 100 different types of HPV, and around 40 that affect the genital area. HPV is very common and can be caught through any kind of sexual contact with another person who already has it. Most people will get an HPV infection at some point in their lives and their bodies will get rid of it naturally without treatment. But some people infected with a high-risk type of HPV will not be able to clear it. Over time, this can cause abnormal tissue growth as well as other changes, which can lead to cancer if not treated.
Who can have the HPV vaccine through the NHS vaccination programme?
The 1st dose of the HPV vaccine is routinely offered to girls and boys aged 12 and 13 in school Year 8. The 2nd dose is offered 6 to 24 months after the 1st dose. If you miss either of your HPV vaccine doses, speak to your school immunisation team or GP surgery and make an appointment to have the missed dose as soon as possible. It’s important to have both doses of the vaccine to be fully protected.
People who were eligible for HPV vaccination in school Year 8 but who missed it can still be vaccinated on the NHS up to their 25th birthday. People who have the 1st dose of the HPV vaccine at 15 years of age or above will need to have 3 doses of the vaccine. This is because they do not respond as well to 2 doses as younger people do.
Contact us to find out more about the HPV Vaccine in Inverness.
