HPV spreads through intimate skin-on-skin contact. Most of the time you would not know that you have an HPV infection, and they often go away on their own. But sometimes they hang around and can lead to a range of cancers later in life.

The vaccine is very effective in preventing infection from the 9 types of HPV. The best way to protect your tamariki against HPV is to get them immunised.

HPV infections may cause genital warts, cancer in the throat and genitals, and can affect anyone. The HPV vaccine, called Gardasil, protects against the virus that causes these cancers.