The HPV vaccine (Gardasil 9) protects against the HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58. Types 6 and 11 cause 90% of genital warts. Genital warts are benign growths that occur in the genital area. They are not dangerous but they need to be treated, and you can also pass them onto other sexual partners. Once you have been infected, you may remain contagious for life and warts can recur at any point in life, especially if your immune system is weakened. Types 16 and 18 (and others) are the primary cause of cervical cancer in women and they are also associated with cancers of the vagina, throat, penis and anus. HPV is an extremely common infection and over three-quarters of sexually active women contract it at some point in their lives. The HPV vaccine consists of two or three doses, which are given by injection. The number of doses you require depends on your age. Children under the age of 15 require two doses. The second dose should be given 5 – 13 months after the first dose. If you are 15 or older, you require three doses to be protected. The second dose should be given at least one month after the first. The third dose has to be given at least three months after the second dose. All three doses have to be given within the course of one year. Anyone up to and including the age of 45 can use this service if they would like to start a course of the HPV vaccine or complete a course that was started at school. For men, the vaccination will help prevent the most common cause of genital warts, and it also protects against some types of cancer. When you arrive at the pharmacy you will be required to fill in a consent form with a short questionnaire to see if you fit the inclusion criteria for the vaccine. The form can be downloaded to view and fill in before your appointment.