Six things to know about the HPV vaccine and why it's recommended
There is a worrying "lack of awareness" about the HPV jab given to secondary school pupils, a charity has warned.
Leading gynaecological cancer charity, The Eve Appeal, has raised concerns over a dip in uptake figures in England combined with an "understanding gap" about the vaccine.
Recent statistics show that HPV coverage for year eight female secondary school students was 72.9% in 2023-24, down from 86.9% back in 2017-18.
Many people still aren't aware that men can get HPV too, as the vaccine for boys was only introduced in 2019. At one point, coverage levels for year eight boys reached 71% (in 2020-21), but have now dropped down to 67.7%
The vaccine is vital because it protects against the human papillomavirus (HPV), which significantly reduces the risk of cancers caused by HPV. The jab helps to ward off six different cancers including those of the cervix, mouth, anus, penis, vulva and vagina.
Athena Lamnisos, chief executive of The Eve Appeal, said that there is a "worrying lack of awareness around HPV", adding, "Girls in the UK have been offered the HPV vaccination since 2008 and vaccination started for boys in 2019 – but in 2025 we've got a long way to go reach the target."
"We know that this is largely because of a huge information and understanding gap around how effective the vaccine is as a cancer prevention tool," Lamnisos explained, highlighting that the HPV vaccine is "the best chance of stopping six different kinds of cancer before they get a chance to start."
Tamara Kahn, chief executive of Oracle Head and Neck Cancer UK, has joined The Eve Appeal to help raise awareness of the jab, adding that, "HPV is now the leading cause and fastest-growing risk factor for head and neck cancers."
"This is a preventable crisis," she said, "HPV-related cancers are some of the few cancers we can prevent with a vaccine, and if we don't take urgent action now, the consequences will be devastating for thousands of more families."
There are some possible side effects of the HPV vaccine which are usually mild and fleeting. These can include swelling or pain where the injection was given, a headache, a high temperature, dizziness, feeling sick and tiredness.
More serious side effects such as a severe allergic reaction are very rare, so most people who are eligible for the HPV vaccine can have it (excluding those who've had a previous allergic reaction to an ingredient in the vaccine).
There's no evidence the vaccine is harmful if you're pregnant, according to the NHS, but sometimes you may be advised to wait until you're no longer pregnant before having the vaccine. The NHS considers it safe to have during breastfeeding.
If you feel unwell or have a temperature, you should wait until you're recovered before having the vaccine.
HPV can spread by any skin-to-skin sexual contact, including penetrative sex, oral sex, mutual masturbation and sharing sex toys.
HPV is a very common virus. Often it has no symptoms which can make it hard to spot. Sometimes it will be cleared by the immune system with no problems, but other types of HPV can cause genital warts and some types can increase the risk of certain cancers (listed above).
If you are 25 years old or under, you're entitled to the vaccine for free on the NHS and some people who may be at slightly higher risk – including men who have sex with men and people who are immunosuppressed – can be vaccinated on the NHS up to the age of 45.
However, over a third of us don't know this. According to a new survey released by The Eve Appeal, 38% of adults said they do not know who is eligible for the NHS HPV vaccination programme.
Two in five (40%) were aware of the vaccination programme for 12 to 13-year-old girls, but only 18% knew the jab is also offered to boys this age, according to the YouGov poll of 2,100 UK adults.
Children aged 12 to 13 (in school year eight) can have the vaccine at school (or community clinics if they're home-schooled).
Girls under 25 and boys born after 1 September 2006 who missed having the vaccine at school, should check with their school nurse or GP surgery where to get it.
Men aged 45 and under who have sex with men, and other people at higher risk of HPV, can access the vaccine via sexual health or HIV clinics.
The HPV vaccine works very well in reducing your risk of getting the virus, according to the NHS. The main barrier to receiving it is a lack of public awareness of who is entitled to it and how to access it.
"We want to make sure that every young person eligible and every parent or carer, has the information and confidence they need to take up the offer of HPV vaccination," emphasises Lamnisos.
Additional reporting: PA News
Read more about HPV:
HPV vaccine credited for declining cervical pre-cancer rates (The Hill, 2-minute read)
This Country Has A Plan To End HPV — Here's What You Should Know About The Virus (HuffPost, 2-min read)
Women with high-risk HPV more likely to die of heart disease or stroke – study (PA Media, 3-min read)
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