HPV Vaccination and Autoimmune Disease: What Does the Evidence Show?

Concerns about the safety of the HPV vaccination have circulated for many years, particularly around claims that the vaccine might increase the risk of autoimmune disease.

Large studies and ongoing vaccine-safety monitoring have provided reassuring evidence. Current UK guidance states that extensive reviews have found no evidence that HPV vaccination causes serious long-term or chronic illnesses, including the autoimmune conditions that have previously caused concern.

For parents considering the vaccine for their children, or adults wondering whether HPV vaccination may be appropriate for them, it is important to separate evidence-based information from outdated claims.

What Did the HPV Vaccine and Autoimmune Disease Study Find?

One of the larger studies examining this question was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ).

Researchers looked at 290,939 girls aged 12 to 17 who were eligible for HPV vaccination in Ontario between 2007 and 2013.

Of these, 180,819 received at least one dose of the quadrivalent HPV vaccine.

Researchers then examined diagnoses of autoimmune disorders following vaccination. There were 681 cases among vaccinated girls during the overall study period, but the researchers found no statistically significant increase in the risk of developing an autoimmune disorder after HPV vaccination.

In other words, autoimmune illnesses continued to occur in the population, as they naturally would, but they were not occurring more often because someone had received the HPV vaccine.

The findings added to a much wider body of research looking at HPV vaccine safety.

What Does Current UK Guidance Say?

The evidence has continued to develop since that study was published.

UK public-health guidance states that extensive safety reviews do not support a link between HPV vaccination and the development of a range of serious or chronic illnesses.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), alongside other international health organisations, continuously monitors vaccine safety.

As with any vaccine or medicine, side effects can occur. According to the NHS, the most common side effects of the HPV vaccine are generally mild and short-lived and can include:

  • pain or swelling where the injection was given
  • headache
  • feeling tired
  • feeling sick
  • dizziness
  • a raised temperature

Serious allergic reactions are possible but are considered very rare.

It is also important to understand that an illness developing after vaccination does not automatically mean that the vaccination caused it. When vaccines are given to millions of people, some will naturally develop unrelated health problems afterwards.

What is an Autoimmune Disease?

An autoimmune disease occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells or tissues.

There are many different autoimmune conditions, which can affect different parts of the body.

Examples include:

  • rheumatoid arthritis
  • lupus
  • multiple sclerosis
  • type 1 diabetes
  • psoriasis
  • Graves’ disease
  • Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
  • myasthenia gravis
  • some forms of inflammatory bowel disease

Because autoimmune conditions can sometimes first become apparent during childhood, adolescence or early adulthood, researchers have carefully investigated whether their diagnosis could be related to HPV vaccination.

The available evidence has not demonstrated an increased risk of autoimmune disease caused by HPV vaccination.

What is HPV?

Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is a very common group of viruses.

HPV is usually spread through close skin-to-skin contact, particularly during sexual activity. Most HPV infections cause no symptoms and are cleared naturally by the immune system.

However, some types of HPV can persist and cause changes to cells.

High-risk HPV types are associated with several cancers, including:

  • cervical cancer
  • anal cancer
  • penile cancer
  • vulval cancer
  • vaginal cancer
  • some cancers of the mouth and throat

Other types of HPV can cause genital warts.

This is why HPV vaccination is primarily considered a cancer-prevention vaccine.

You can read more about HPV and HPV vaccination at Dr Wayne Cottrell & Co.

Who is Offered the HPV Vaccine in the UK?

The NHS routine HPV vaccination programme now includes both girls and boys.

All children aged 12 to 13 years old, usually in school Year 8, are offered HPV vaccination.

Young people who missed vaccination at school may also be eligible for NHS catch-up vaccination.

Current NHS guidance states that:

  • girls aged 24 and under who missed vaccination can usually receive it free on the NHS up to their 25th birthday
  • boys born after 1 September 2006 can usually access catch-up vaccination up to their 25th birthday
  • some people at higher risk of HPV may also be eligible for vaccination

The number of doses required depends on age and individual circumstances. Most people under the age of 25 currently require one dose, while some older people and those with weakened immune systems require additional doses.

HPV Vaccination for Adults

HPV vaccination is not only something parents may consider for teenagers.

Adults who were not vaccinated when younger may also wish to discuss HPV vaccination with a healthcare professional.

Whether vaccination is appropriate can depend on factors including:

  • age
  • previous vaccination
  • immune-system health
  • individual HPV risk
  • NHS eligibility
  • whether private vaccination is being considered

Vaccination does not treat an existing HPV infection, but it may still provide protection against HPV types that a person has not previously encountered.

Is the HPV Vaccine Safe?

No medical treatment is completely without risk, but HPV vaccines have been extensively studied and monitored.

Current NHS and UK Government guidance continues to support the safety of HPV vaccination.

Importantly, the evidence available today is much broader than the individual study that originally prompted this article. Studies from several countries and ongoing vaccine-safety monitoring have consistently failed to demonstrate that HPV vaccination causes the range of autoimmune and chronic illnesses that have sometimes been attributed to it.

This is reassuring for parents, young people and adults deciding whether to be vaccinated.

HPV Vaccination in Canary Wharf

At Dr Wayne Cottrell & Co, we can provide advice about HPV, sexual health and vaccination for patients in Canary Wharf and across London.

If you are unsure whether you or your child has already been vaccinated, whether another dose is required, or whether private HPV vaccination may be appropriate, this can be discussed during an appointment.

You can find out more about our HPV vaccination and sexual health services or book an appointment directly through our website, or by calling 020 4579 3971

Reliable UK Information

Further information about HPV vaccination is available from:

If you have questions about HPV vaccination, your medical history or whether vaccination may be suitable for you, please speak with a qualified healthcare professional.