HPV Vaccine free?

[Jogrighton]

Hi all,

My son has just turned 17 and he missed the hpv vaccine at school.

I want him to have it before he becomes sexually active ( he tells me he is not ) and have booked him in to Boots next week (£465 for 3 injections) but it does say it's free to under 25's but I can't see where?

I will pay it but obviously if I can get it for free it would be a bonus!

Any idea?

Have you asked at school? Could he tag along when Y8 are having theirs?

My DS missed it in January because he was isolating. They're having extra mop-up clinics for those in similar position.

It is free for boys up until 25 if they were in year 8 on or after 1 September 2019. If eligible can be done at GP.

You need to get in touch with the school nursing or local SIT (screening and immunisations team) which should be google-able for your local area.

I will try the GP although I don't hold out much hope.

The other option is the GUM but I imagine they are limited appointments in general.

I’m a GP nurse and we wouldn’t give it. Responsibility for the administration lies with the school nursing and immunisation team, if you give the school a ring they should be able to give you the details. They’re always running mop up clinics to get kids that have been missed.

@MonkeyPuddle

You need to get in touch with the school nursing or local SIT (screening and immunisations team) which should be google-able for your local area.

Thanks I will have a look tomorrow !!

I knew you lot would know

No worries lovely. We don’t even keep it in stock at our surgery. But yeah, any school ages child, if they are in regular school, homeschooled, excluded, whatever, school imms team deal with their vaccinations.
It’s a palaver but it’s a red tape/funding thing.

Our GP doesn't do them. You have to go to the teen drop in afternoon at the sexual health clinic.

He wasn’t eligible unless he was in y8 in 2019/20 or since then. If he’s turning 17 I think that means he’s in y12 now? So would have been in Y11 in 2019/20?
This is from NHS website: “ A catch-up programme for older boys is not necessary as evidence suggests they're already benefiting greatly from the indirect protection (known as herd protection) that's built up from 10 years of the girls' HPV vaccination programme.”
That said I would probably consider a private vaccination for my son if he was too old too.

Yes, he left school last year so wasn't in year 8 in 2019 so missed the program.

I have emailed the local immunisation team, I'm not holding out much hope and I have a colleague in gum so will ask advice there.

I have a feeling I will just have to pay for it but I want him to have some protection and also protect females!

Thanks all you're all ace

Ah sorry I missed the part with his age, yeah looks like he’s not eligible, sorry! I’m very sleep deprived with a sleep regressing baby.

Following with interest. My eldest is about to turn 16 and I want him to have the jab, purely because his younger brother will be getting it at school and it doesn’t feel right that one of them gets the protection of the jab and not the other, if that makes sense?

A close relative is recovering from some horrific surgery and radiotherapy from a mouth cancer caused by HPV. Your £465 will be well spent.

My two sons have had the jabs at the GP free of charge. Sounds like they were lucky to get it there.

I had to pay for this for my son, currently in year 11 so he missed the free programme. If you do it before they turn 15 the you only need 2 injections rather than 3 so much cheaper, don't hang around if you have a 14 year old!

Just to update

local immunisation team and gp couldn't help. I didn't contact the local gum clinic tbh. So I paid £465 for a course of 3 injections, he's had the first one! On the upside he had it at Boots so did claim points

Such a relief to know you've done everything you can to protect him 😄