ABSTRACT
HPV is a DNA virus, associated with cervical, vaginal and vulval cancers. The most common oncogenic subtypes are 16, 18, 31 and 33. HPV 16 and 18 together are responsible for up to 75% of cervical cancers. HPV 6 and 11 cause anogenital warts. Prophylactic HPV vaccination was implemented in the UK in 2008 for girls aged 12–13 years. The quadrivalent vaccine, Gardasil, with protection against HPV types 16 and 18 and also types 6 and 11, is now currently used in the UK vaccination programme. Cervarix, a bivalent vaccine covering HPV 16 and 18 was used for the first 3 years of the UK vaccination programme.
