You know you want to help protect your child against HPV and HPV-related cancers, but you have some questions to help make you more comfortable before you decide.

The HPV Vaccine has been available since 2008

Over 300,000 Kiwis have already taken the step to protect themselves with the HPV Vaccine.

The HPV Vaccine has been well tested

The HPV Vaccine cannot be used in Aotearoa New Zealand without the Government’s regulatory body Medsafe, ensuring that it is safe and effective.

HPV Vaccines have been thoroughly tested in many clinical trials, including in New Zealand. In fact, there have been 65 published research papers on the HPV Vaccine.

One long-term study (Kjaer S, et al.), showed the HPV Vaccine was still over 90% effective after 10 years.

Does the HPV Vaccine have side effects?

To understand the safety of the HPV Vaccine, it was evaluated in clinical trials involving more than 15,000 people who had at least one dose of the HPV Vaccine.

Like any vaccine, there can be side effects. The most common include pain, redness, swelling, itching and bruising at or around the injection-site as well as headache, fever, nausea, dizziness and fatigue.

For the most part these reactions are mild and usually improve or disappear within a few days.

Have more questions?

Your doctor or nurse will have all the information on vaccines including the HPV Vaccine and they can help with any questions you have including understanding the consent form your son or daughter brought home from school.