HPV vaccine

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a group of more than 100 viruses. It is most common in people in their late teens and early twenties. Most people will be infected with a form of HPV in their lifetime.

You can catch HPV by being sexually active with another person who already has the virus.

Most HPV infections do not need treatment because your body can clear the virus itself. But in some people, the HPV infection can develop into genital warts, or can cause changes to the cells which can lead to cancer.

If it develops further, HPV can cause cancer of the:

• cervix
• vulva (the area surrounding the opening of the vagina)
• vagina
• anus
• oropharynx (the part of the throat at the back of the mouth)
• penis

HealthHero Ireland's HPV vaccine assessment costs €35. The cost of the HPV vaccine itself is additional and can vary, so we'd recommend that you check with your local pharmacy.

HealthHero Ireland can prescribe the vaccine to men and women aged between 16 and 44.

A vaccine is a substance that improves immunity (protection) to a particular disease. The HPV vaccine protects against the HPV virus which can cause cancer and genital warts in both women and men. The World Health Organization (WHO) considers the HPV vaccine to be extremely safe.

The HPV vaccine available to you protects against 9 types of HPV – 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58 – which are the most common types of HPV. Please read the patient information leaflet for more information.