Free HPV vaccine available until December 2023

The Laura Brennan HPV vaccine catch-up programme is now available in Ireland for free. The vaccine is being offered to men, and people with a penis, up until age 21. It is also available for women, and people with a cervix, up until age 24. The cervix is the entrance to the womb.

The catch-up programme is to help protect those who did not get the vaccine when it was offered to them in school. It is also being offered to young international students and refugees. The HPV vaccine will be available for free at participating vaccination centres from the 29th of August until the 31st of December, 2023. 

How can I get the free HPV vaccine?

The HPV vaccine is currently offered to first-year students in secondary school by HSE school vaccination teams. The HSE are now also running an additional vaccination programme until the end of 2023, for those who may have missed out on getting the vaccine at school. 

You can get a free HPV vaccine if you:

• Are in second to sixth year of secondary school, homeschool or special school
• Have a cervix and are aged 24 or younger
• Have a penis and are aged 21 or younger

If you’re an international student living in Ireland, you can get a free vaccine if you:

• Have a cervix and are aged 24 or younger
• Have a penis and are aged 21 or younger

If you’re a refugee or seeking protection in Ireland, you can get a vaccine if you:

• Have a cervix and are aged 14 to 24
• Have a penis and are aged 14 to 21

Book a HPV vaccine appointment

How do I book the HPV vaccine?

If you meet the criteria above, you can book your free HPV vaccine online through the HSE portal. 

To do this you will need:

• Your mobile phone number
• Your address or Eircode

They also ask for a PPS number. However, if you do not have one, you can still get a vaccine. The HSE ask for your PPS number to find your individual health identifier (IHI). An IHI is a unique number used to identify you when you use a health or social care service.

Other questions you are asked when registering for the vaccine include:

• Name
• Sex
• Date of birth
• Mother’s last name at birth

When you enter your details into the HSE system, it will check if you have been vaccinated before. If you have you will be told you do not need to be vaccinated again. If you haven’t been vaccinated before, you will then proceed to booking your appointment.

If for any reason you need more assistance when booking your appointment, HSELive will be taking calls to support people in getting an appointment.

Book a HPV vaccine appointment

What to bring to your appointment

The time it takes between registering for a vaccine and receiving an appointment can vary. On the day of your appointment, you are asked to arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled time. It is best to wear something that will make it easy to get the vaccine in your upper arm, like a loose t-shirt.

You do not need to fast and should eat normally before your appointment for getting a HPV vaccine.

If you’re 16 or over

Bring a photo ID with your date of birth to your appointment, such as your:

• Passport
• Driving licence
• Garda age card

If you’re under 16

A parent or legal guardian must be with you at the appointment. You will need to bring your PPS number and ID with your date of birth on it. This can be your passport or birth certificate. If you do not have these, any ID like a Public Services Card or school ID would be helpful.

If you do not have any ID, your parent or legal guardian can confirm your identity and age at the appointment.

Taking care of yourself after your HPV vaccination

Most people have no problems after the vaccine. However, the HPV vaccine has many of the same, mild side effects as other vaccines. Some people may have an area of soreness, swelling and redness in their arm where the injection was given. This usually passes after a day or two.

Some people may get a headache, feel sick in their tummy or have a slight temperature. If this happens, paracetamol or ibuprofen will help. Occasionally, some people may feel unwell and faint after getting their injection. To prevent this, when someone gets the vaccine they are asked to sit down and rest for 15 minutes after the vaccination.

Severe allergic reactions to vaccines are very rare. School vaccination teams and staff at vaccination centres are trained to treat any severe allergic reaction. If you are worried, talk to a member of the school team or your GP.

Need more information, advice or guidance?

We offer information, advice and guidance about the issues that matter to you. Our online Youth Information Chat service is for 16 to 25 year olds and is available Monday to Friday, 4pm to 8pm (excluding Bank Holidays).

• Chat now to a trained Youth Information Officer
• Or leave us a message and we will email you back