hpv vaccination at 18 and older

[SoonerthanIthought]

Starting a new thread as I don't want to hi jack (or rather i failed to hi jack!) another thread that's going on at the moment.

I've heard that hpv vaccination isn't available at GPs once you are 18, and wondered what the reasoning is behind that (or is it even right - this website suggests you can get it on NHS up to age 25, but I think gps only offer it up to age 18?) I'm interested as to why it would be age limited - isn't it as effective after a certain age?

www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/how-is-hpv-vaccine-cervarix-gardasil-given/

I think it’s not effective once you’ve had sex

I think that's right - so is the age limit of 18 based on the assumption that the majority of women have had sex by the time they're 18? I said on the other thread my impression is that that isn't the case! (25 is different again, obviously)

Yeah I presume that’s the reason. Once you’ve been possibly exposed to HPV thro sex I think there’s no point in giving the vaccine. Plus they also told me it was more effective when it’s given to younger kids so my 15 yr old son needed 3 doses (not in the UK) cause I was a bit late in getting it organised for him

I've read that there may be some point in vaccination even after becoming sexually active, as you still may not have been exposed to all the strains that are vaccinated against. I suppose that may be particularly true of Gardasil 9 as it protects against all 9. (Is the national vaccination programme still using Gardasil 4?)

It seems strange to me, as the vaccine may not be 'lifelong' anyway, not to give it on NHS at 18, as many women don't become sexually active until after that anyway (I assume!) Wouldn't it be more effective to have it at 18 than at 12 in those cases? (I realise there are problems about reaching the target population at 18, whereas 12-13 year olds are more easily accessible through school, so that may be the reason).