HSE urge young people in Limerick to avail of 'life-saving' HPV vaccine

YOUNG people in the Mid-West have been urged to avail of the life-saving HPV vaccine to protect themselves.

HSE Mid-West has called on young men and women to register for the vaccine, to protect themselves against HPV-related cancers and genital warts.

As part of the Laura Brennan HPV (human papillomavirus) Vaccine Catch-Up Programme, the vaccine is now available to men, aged 21 and younger and to women, aged 24 and younger.

For the month of September, the HSE Mid-West team will be appealing to the young population in Limerick, Clare, and North Tipperary, to avail of this important vaccine. The HSE will establishing pop-up vaccine clinics at Higher Education Institutions in Limerick this month.

The HPV vaccine protects against the types of HPV that cause approximately 90% of cervical cancers; 90-95% of HPV-related anal cancer; and 90% of genital warts.

“We are particularly appealing to women who have left secondary school and did not previously receive the vaccine. It is possible people did not receive the vaccine between 2020 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said HSE Mid-West.

They added: “We are also appealing to eligible young men to avail of the vaccine in order to protect themselves and their sexual partners against HPV-related infections and cancers.”

As around 1-in-3 men can carry a strain of HPV, and 1-in-5 men can carry high-risk strains of HPV, it is important for boys and young men to get the HPV vaccine.

According to the latest data, there has been 81.7% uptake of the HPV vaccine among 1st year secondary school girls. This is below 87.3% uptake in 2019-2020.

Dr Breda Cosgrove, Consultant in Public Health Medicine, Public Health HSE Mid-West said: “The welcome extension of the HPV vaccine catch-up programme means we now have a great opportunity to protect more young men and women against HPV infection which can lead to cancer, such as cervical, anal, penile, throat, and oral cancers, as well as genital warts. I would strongly encourage young people to receive this safe and effective vaccine and to protect themselves against HPV.”

Dr Phil Fitzgerald, Principal Medical Officer, HSE Mid West Community Healthcare said: “The HPV vaccine has been available to First Year boys since September 2019, but this is the first time that this vaccine has been offered for free to many young men in this age group.  I want to make a special appeal to these men to avail of this opportunity, as well as those young men and women who were previously offered the vaccine but did not get it. The HPV vaccine is safe and usually only one dose is needed." 

Dr Naro Imcha, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist and Associate Clinical Director of Maternal & Child Health, UL Hospitals Group said: “As an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, I am deeply committed to promoting women’s health and well-being. The threat of the Human Papillomavirus is real, often showing no symptoms, silently lurking until it manifests as a more serious condition. The HPV vaccine is a powerful solution and a proactive step towards protecting yourself and your loved ones from potential cancers of the cervix, throat, and more.” 

The programme will run until December 31. Eligible people can register here to receive a HPV vaccine.