Question for the Minister of Health

Minister's Answer

The only cancer preventable vaccine available in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, is the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which primarily prevents cervical cancer. It also helps reduce some types of other cancers linked to HPV, such as head and neck cancer, including oropharyngeal cancer (a type of throat cancer) and mouth cancer.

The HPV vaccine is offered routinely, through a school-based vaccination programme, to all males and females aged 12 to 13 years (school Year 9).

It is also available to people up to the age of 25 who, for whatever reason, did not take up the offer of vaccination in school, on request via their GP.

In addition, HPV vaccination is also offered to gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, and some transgender people, up to the age of 45, via specialist sexual-health services.