A catch-up HPV vaccine is set to become available at schools in West Cork, according to The Southern Star. The newspaper reported the development on Friday, 18 September 2026. The report did not specify a start date or name the schools involved.
The Southern Star's headline describes the dose as a "catch-up" vaccine, indicating it is intended for students who did not receive the HPV vaccine during the usual school programme. The paper did not state which age groups would be eligible or how the doses would be administered.
HPV, or human papillomavirus, is a common virus that can lead to several types of cancer, including cervical cancer. Vaccination programmes in schools are a standard public health measure aimed at protecting young people before they are exposed to the virus. Catch-up rounds are typically arranged for those who missed earlier doses, though The Southern Star's report did not confirm the reason for this particular round.
The Southern Star also did not indicate whether the programme would run across all West Cork schools or only some of them, nor whether parental consent would be required. No figures were given for how many students the catch-up doses are expected to reach.
The report follows the headline published by The Southern Star on 18 September 2026 and is based on the information available at that time.
What to watch next: further details from health authorities or The Southern Star on the programme's start date, eligibility and the schools taking part.