HPV vaccine catch-up clinics to be hosted
Clinics will be held in Cavan and Monaghan in the coming weeks as part of the Laura Brennan HPV vaccine catch-up programme.
The programme is aimed at those aged 16 years or older who did not get their HPV vaccine yet.
Eligible people can register on www.hpv.ie for an appointment for a free vaccine, which will be administered through HSE vaccination clinics and schools in 2023.
The Laura Brennan HPV vaccine catch-up clinics will be held in Cavan and Monaghan on the following dates:
Friday 28th April from 9am to 11.30am at the Youthreach Centre Cavan (students only).
Friday 28th April from 12pm to 3.30p-m at the Connolly St. Primary Care Centre, Connolly St. Cavan.
Friday 26th May from 9am to 12.30pm in the Castleblayney Youthreach Centre (students only)
Friday 26th May from 1.30pm to 3.30pm in the North Monaghan Primary Care Centre, Rooskey, Co. Monaghan.
The programme is supported by Bernie and Larry Brennan, parents of the late Laura Brennan who campaigned for higher uptake of the HPV vaccine before her death from cervical cancer in 2019, aged 26 years.
The most common cancer caused by the HPV virus is cervical cancer – cancer of the neck of the womb. However, the HPV virus can cause other cancers and conditions that can affect boys, and since September 2019, boys have also been offered the HPV vaccine. The more young people vaccinated – both boys and girls – the better the spread of the infection can be controlled.
Free HPV vaccines will be offered to all boys and girls in second-level education who were previously eligible to receive the vaccine and who have not yet received it.
It is also open to young women up to the age of 25 who have left secondary school and did not previously receive the vaccine.
No action is required for those who are under 16 and want to get the HPV vaccine, they will be be offered the vaccine through their school or a HSE clinic in 2023.
Over 500,000 people have already received the HPV vaccine through the HSE school vaccination programme.