The HSE has launched the next phase of the Laura Brennan HPV vaccine catch-up programme, giving eligible young people who previously missed their HPV vaccine another opportunity to get protected against HPV-related cancers.
HSE vaccination teams are currently visiting post-primary (secondary) schools across the country to offer free HPV vaccination to students in second, third, fourth and fifth year who have not previously received the vaccine. Home-educated young people in eligible age groups can also access the free vaccine.
The latest preliminary data from the first phase of the School Catch-up Programme shows that more than 2,000 young people who had previously missed their HPV vaccine have now been vaccinated through the programme. Young people are continuing to come forward when given another opportunity to receive the vaccine.
The programme gives young people who missed vaccination another opportunity to protect themselves against HPV-related cancers. It also 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.”
Bernie Brennan, mother of Laura, said: “Laura would have turned 34 this year but she died of cervical cancer, a HPV-related cancer, when she was 26. As I always say, prevention is better than cure and prevention is definitely better than no cure. If you have a boy or girl in first year, make sure they get their HPV vaccine. If they missed out in first year, they have a chance to catch-up now with the launch of this programme in Laura’s name. Don’t miss the opportunity to save them from HPV-related cancers when they grow up.”
Dr Lucy Jessop, Consultant in Public Health Medicine and National Immunisation Lead at the HSE National Immunisation Office, noted how it was encouraging that “more than 2,000 young people who had previously missed their HPV vaccine have already been vaccinated through the School Catch-up Programme. Every young person who comes forward is gaining important protection against HPV-related cancers later in life. We want as many eligible young people as possible to benefit from this programme. While many young people are protected against HPV, we know that some missed vaccination when it was first offered.
“HPV is very common and can cause cancer later in life, but vaccination can significantly reduce that risk. This catch-up programme gives young people who missed out another opportunity to get protected.”
Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD noted how "the powerful advocacy of Laura and her parents, Larry and Bernadette, has saved lives and helped to increase confidence in vaccination. The excellent work of the Irish Cancer Society in this regard must also be acknowledged.
"By increasing HPV vaccination uptake, we are progressing towards the ultimate goal of eliminating cervical cancer in Ireland by 2040 and helping to make this disease increasingly rare for future generations.”
A new study published in The Lancet has provided further evidence of the life-saving impact of HPV vaccination, showing that cervical cancer deaths among young women in England have fallen dramatically since the introduction of the HPV vaccine programme, with no cervical cancer deaths recorded among women aged 20-24 between 2020 and 2024. The benefits seen in England demonstrate the importance of maintaining high vaccination uptake.
The HPV vaccine doesn't just protect against cervical cancer, but also other HPV-related cancers for example cancers of the penis and anus, as well as genital warts. Every young person who receives the HPV vaccine gains protection against HPV-related cancers and diseases in later life.
The HSE is encouraging parents and guardians to review the information provided, 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 is open to all eligible boys and girls in second to fifth year of post-primary (secondary) school. It is also open to home-educated young people born between 1 September 2008 and 31 August 2013.
If your 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.
The HPV vaccine is most effective when received at the age it is first offered. However, young people who missed vaccination now have another opportunity to receive protection.