The Department has published guidance and supporting documents that give information on the change to the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. From September 2012 the HPV vaccine will change from Cervarix to Gardasil.
The vaccine protects against cervical cancer and is offered routinely to girls aged 12 to 13 years (school year 8).
The existing publications will remain in print for those girls who have yet to complete their three-dose courses of Cervarix, even if this means they will need vaccinating next academic year (2012/13) while other girls are starting their courses with Gardasil.
The publications can easily be distinguished as the new leaflet features a black mobile phone on the cover and the existing one a pink phone. The new leaflet also carries the date of the change over.