Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (HPV)

What is HPV?

HPV is a very common virus with the potential to cause a variety of cancer in individuals. About 8 out of 10 adults will get it at some point in their lives, and most people don’t even know they have it as it doesn’t usually cause symptoms.

If you are not vaccinated, you could end up with HPV-related cancers:

• Cervical cancer

• Throat (Oropharyngeal) cancer

• Genital cancer

What are the benefits of getting the HPV vaccine?

• The HPV vaccine (Gardasil 9) helps protect you from getting cancers that are caused by the HPV virus.

• It protects against nine types of HPV, including the group four that causes around 20% of cervical cancers.
  

The HPV vaccine is FREE for anyone between the ages 9 to 26 (inclusively)

• If started between 9-14 years old, a course of two doses is required (6 months apart)

• If started between 15-26 years old, a course of three doses is required (0, 2 and 6 months)