HPV causes most cancers of the throat, anus and penis as well as genital warts, and throat cancer caused by HPV is now more common in men than cervical cancer is in women. Vaccinating boys protects them directly, not just their partners.
The NHS has vaccinated boys in Year 8 since 2019, and offers catch-up to men who have sex with men up to 45. Men outside those groups — anyone who was at school before 2019, or who arrived in the UK later — can have Gardasil 9 privately at any of our branches. See the HPV vaccination page and HPV vaccination for adults.
The course is two doses for ages 9–14 and three doses from 15, spread over six months. Side effects are a sore arm and occasionally feeling faint for a few minutes afterwards. It can be given alongside other vaccines.
Vaccination doesn’t remove the need for sexual health checks, and it works best before exposure but still protects adults against the types they haven’t met.
15-minute pharmacist consultation, supplied under a Patient Group Direction. Book a time at any of our six branches or walk in.
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