A HPV vaccine catch-up programme has been announced by the Department of Health.

Human papilloma virus (HPV) can cause cancer and genital warts in both men and women. The vaccine can protect against this. For example, it protects against the types of HPV that cause nine out of 10 cervical cancers.

In an attempt to ensure more people are vaccinated, the department has announced the Laura Brennan HPV Vaccine Catch-Up Programme. Ms Brennan had been diagnosed with cervical cancer at the age of  24. She passed away in March 2019 at the age of just 26.

Prior to her death, she advocated publicly in favour of the government’s HPV vaccination campaign. Her work in this area contributed to a significant increase in the number of young people coming forward for vaccination.

September just gone would have been Ms Brennan’s 30^th birthday and her family was involved with the catch-up announcement.

“The reality of living with cancer, and then life after cancer when someone passes away, means that we miss out on milestone celebrations with our loved ones. To see the HPV catch-up programme named in Laura’s memory is a comfort and a testament to Laura’s dedication to increasing the uptake of the HPV vaccine. I urge all parents to discuss HPV vaccination with their children and encourage them to take it,” commented Ms Brennan’s mother, Bernie Brennan.

The programme, which is expected to launch in mid-November 2022, will offer free HPV vaccines to all boys and girls in second level education who were previously eligible to receive the HPV vaccine but who have not yet, for whatever reason, received it.

Young women up to the age of 25 who have now left secondary school will also be eligible to receive the vaccine as part of the catch-up programme. 

The vaccine will be administered in clinics as a single dose and is free of charge.

“It is so important that this vaccine will be available free of charge and easily accessed for those who missed out on it in school. I hope this move increases uptake across the country. I would urge anyone who has any question about HPV vaccines to get your information from trusted sources like the HSE and the WHO. Increasing uptake of the HPV vaccine will protect women and stop them getting cervical cancer,” added Ms Brennan’s father, Larry Brennan.