HSE rolls out expansion of the Laura Brennan HPV Catch-up Vaccination Programme

Since December 2022 the HSE has been offering a catch-up opportunity to those who were previously eligible, but did not avail of the opportunity to get the HPV vaccine as part of the HSE School Immunisation Programme.

The Laura Brennan HPV Catch-up Vaccination Programme is now offering another chance for eligible males and females to receive the HPV vaccine for free through HSE vaccination clinics if they have not received it before. For more information and to book an appointment please see www.hpv.ie.

The programme has now been expanded to include:

• All unvaccinated students from 2nd – 6th year in second level education.
• All unvaccinated males who have left second level education and are 21 years old or younger on the date of offer of vaccination.

The programme also continues for all unvaccinated females who have left second level education and are 24 years old or younger on the date of offer of vaccination.

The HPV vaccine is available free of charge through HSE vaccination clinics for those who have not received the vaccine before. This offer is open until the end of 2023. For more information and to book an appointment in your area please see hpv.ie

Dr Lucy Jessop, Consultant in Public Health Medicine – National Immunisations Lead at the HSE National Immunisation Office, said:

“The HPV vaccine has been offered to girls in first year in secondary school since 2010. This is because the most common cancer caused by the HPV virus is cervical cancer. However, the HPV virus can cause other cancers and conditions that can affect boys and men, and since September 2019, boys have also been offered the HPV vaccine.

When HPV infections don’t go away by themselves, they can cause certain kinds of cancer to grow. In males, these include oropharyngeal cancer, anal cancer and penile cancer.

The Minister’s recent announcement about the expansion of Laura Brennan HPV Catch-up Vaccination Programme will give an additional opportunity for people to get vaccinated. The more young people vaccinated the better the spread of HPV infection can be controlled.

Most people only need 1 dose of HPV vaccine and I would encourage people to avail of this opportunity as until the end of 2023 the vaccine will be available for free through HSE vaccination clinics. It’s really simple to book an appointment. People just need to visit www.hpv.ie and select an appointment in their area at a HSE clinic.”