HSE South West Extends HPV Catch-Up Vaccine Programme to Second to Fifth Year Students

HSE South West is offering secondary students in second to fifth year, who missed their HPV vaccine in first year, another opportunity to get protected against HPV-related cancers.

The latest phase of the Laura Brennan HPV Catch-up Vaccination Programme has started, with HSE South West vaccination teams planning to visit post-primary schools across Cork and Kerry to offer free HPV vaccination to students in second, third, fourth and fifth year who have not already received the vaccine.

Dr Sinead O'Riordan, Specialist Registrar in Public Health Medicine, HSE South West, said:

"HPV vaccination is one of the most effective measures we have to reduce the risk of HPV-related cancers in Ireland. It is part of our goal to eliminate cervical cancer in Ireland by 2040. I would encourage all eligible young people to discuss this with their parents/guardians and take the opportunity to receive this safe, effective and life-saving vaccine."

Who is eligible:

Males and females in second, third, fourth and fifth year (between the ages of 14-18 years) of secondary school, along with home-educated students and students in special schools with a date-of-birth range of 1 September 2007 to 31 August 2012.

Only young people who have not received any HPV vaccinations are eligible for the programme. Sixth years were offered this catch-up HPV vaccine in fifth year, during the academic year 2025-2026.

Breda Forbes, Assistant Director Public Health Nursing, HSE South West, said:

"HPV is a very common virus, which can lie dormant for many years in males and females and may cause cancer in later life. The HPV vaccine, Gardasil 9, also prevents genital warts when given before exposure to the virus.

While many young people are protected against HPV, we know that some missed vaccination when it was first offered. Vaccination significantly reduces that risk and this catch-up programme gives young people who missed out another opportunity to get protected.

While historically the HPV vaccine focused on girls to prevent cervical cancer, the vaccine programme was extended in 2019 to include boys. HPV causes roughly a quarter of all HPV-associated cancers in men, including oropharyngeal (mouth/throat), anal and penile cancer. There are no routine screening tests for these types of cancers, so vaccine prevention is imperative."

The latest data from the first phase of the School HPV Catch-up Programme show that more than 2,000 young Irish people, who had previously missed their HPV vaccine, have now been vaccinated through the programme.

How the programme will work

HSE vaccination teams will work with post-primary schools to highlight the catch-up programme and offer vaccination to eligible students who missed HPV vaccination previously.

Parents and guardians of eligible students aged 15 years and under will be required to provide consent for vaccination. Young people aged 16 years and over can provide consent themselves.

Dr Mairead McDonnell, Senior Medical Officer in Community Medicine, HSE South West, said:

"HPV infection can cause a number of cancers, including cervical, throat, anal, penile and vulval cancers. We would encourage parents and guardians to talk openly with their children and young people about HPV vaccination and support them to make an informed decision when the vaccine is offered."

The programme continues the legacy of Laura Brennan (RIP), whose advocacy transformed awareness of HPV vaccination in Ireland. During the final months of her life, she campaigned publicly to encourage young people to get the HPV vaccine. In Laura's words: "the HPV vaccine saves lives; it could have saved mine."

If a child received one dose of the HPV vaccine when it was offered in first year of post-primary school, they are fully vaccinated and do not need a second dose. Young people with a weakened immune system who have completed their recommended three-dose course are also fully vaccinated and do not need any further doses.

Separately, the routine school vaccination programme will continue as normal, with first-year students offered HPV, Tdap and MenACWY vaccines.

Visit HSE.ie for information on how to get the vaccine.