Everyone eligible aged between 16 years and 25 years are being invited into the surgery to catch up on their missed HPV vaccine from when they were in school. 

The HPV vaccination is given to boys and girls in year 8 at school, but some people may have missed it at the time. If you were offered the vaccine in school and missed it, you can catch up anytime until your 25^th birthday.

The HPV vaccine helps protects against a common infection called HPV, that in some cases can lead to some types of cancer, such as cervical, head and neck.

Speak to your GP surgery to check you have had your vaccine, and if you missed it, you can book your appointment to catch up.

For more information on HPV and the HPV vaccine see the NHS website

Community pharmacies can offer treatment and when appropriate some prescription medicine, for seven common conditions without patients needing to see a GP, as part of a major transformation in the way the NHS delivers care. 

Highly trained pharmacists at more than nine in ten pharmacies can now assess, treat, and when appropriate, provide some prescription medicine for the following without need for a GP appointment.

• earache (for those aged between 1 and 17)
• impetigo
• infected insect bites
• shingles
• sinusitis
• sore throat
• urinary tract infections (UTIs) for women aged 16-64

Available at the heart of local communities, community pharmacy teams have the right clinical training to give people the health advice they need, with no appointment necessary and private consultations available. Community pharmacists will signpost patients to other local services where necessary. 

By expanding the services community pharmacies offer, the NHS is aiming to help free up GP appointments and give people more choice in how and where they access care. 

Don’t wait for minor health concerns to get worse – think pharmacy first and get seen by your local pharmacy team.

For more information, visit nhs.uk/thinkpharmacyfirst