Campaign background
The Laura Brennan HPV vaccine schools catch-up programme is designed to offer a further vaccination opportunity to young people, both male and female, who may have missed earlier opportunities to receive the HPV vaccine. The programme will be delivered primarily through schools.
During the initial phase of the programme, free HPV vaccines will be provided to students in 5th and 6th year of secondary school between January and August 2026. In the following phase, these vaccines will be available to students from 2nd to 5th year in the 2026/2027 academic year.
It is important to remember that the most effective time to get the HPV vaccine is when it is first offered. The routine national school-based immunisation programme, which offers the HPV vaccine to first-year students in secondary school, will continue as normal throughout 2026.
If a child is home-educated and born between 1st September 2006 and the 31st August 2009, and did not receive the HPV vaccine in first year of secondary school, the free HPV vaccine is still available.
The HPV vaccine
HPV vaccination protects both girls and boys against a range of other HPV-related cancers, including cancers of the throat, anus, penis and vulva, as well as genital warts. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has set a target for all countries to ensure that 90% of girls are vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by the age of 15 years.
The HPV vaccine has been offered to girls in their first year of secondary school since 2010. Since September 2019, boys in first year of secondary school have also been offered the HPV vaccine. As the HPV vaccine is a preventative measure, it is intended to be administered, if possible, before a person becomes exposed to HPV infection.
The HPV vaccine has a strong safety record and is part of the national immunisation programme. The vaccine has been proven safe and effective, with strict monitoring by WHO, the European Medicines Agency. No long-term side effects have been documented.
The gender-neutral HPV vaccination programme targets all girls and boys in first year of secondary school as part of the national school vaccination programme.
Key messages
1.Both male and female students in 5th and 6th year are eligible for the catch-up programme if they missed their dose previously.
2.Parents or guardians of eligible students will be contacted directly when it is their child’s turn to receive the vaccine.
3.Parents and children aged 16 years and over should look out for consent forms and send them back to the school completed.
4.Parents of home educated children can contact their local health office (LHO clicking this link will take you to a different website) and ask to speak with the HSE immunisation team, who will support you with booking an appointment.
5.HPV is common, and the vaccine protects you. Most people will get HPV at some point. The vaccine protects against cancers caused by HPV, and also helps prevent genital warts.
6.Getting the HPV vaccine significantly reduces your chance of getting cervical cancer later in life.
7.The vaccine used in Ireland is called Gardasil 9. It’s safe and highly effective. It’s a once-off vaccine that protects you for life, and it’s free.
8.If you have a healthy immune system, you only need one dose to get protected. Some people with a weak immune system may need three doses.
Visit www.hpv.ie (clicking this link will bring you to a different website) for more information.