HPV vaccination and cervical screening

Uptake of the vaccine has been steadily increasing, but more than a third of women in the older age range (20–26 years) have not yet started or completed a course of HPV vaccination. We would encourage you to take the opportunity when you see a young woman for cervical screening to check her HPV vaccination status and offer the vaccine if she hasn’t completed a course and is eligible (and also let her know that her sexual partner may now be eligible). The vaccine course does not need to be restarted if more than the recommended time has elapsed since previous doses.

When ordering HPV vaccine most General Practices and other Primary Health Care providers will now be receiving HPV9. Please use up any stocks of HPV4 before starting the HPV9. Both vaccines are given on the same schedule and people who begin on one and can finish on the other.

If you are looking for more information on the HPV programme please check out the Ministry of Health’s website or you can ring and talk to the advisors at the Immunisation Advisory Centre on 0800 466863. IMAC also have a free online education module on HPV and HPV vaccination.