Thousands of young people missed out on HPV vaccinations because of the Covid pandemic

HPV is a very common group of viruses that can cause genital warts and are linked to various cancers.

An estimated 32-thousand Year 7 and 8 students didn't get their shots due to Covid lockdowns.

Our target rate for vaccination is currently set at 75 percent and we have a completion rate of just 66 percent.

Otago University's Dame Sue Bagshaw says in comparison, other countries are achieving herd immunity with HPV vaccination programmes.

She says it's important as it helps stop cancers that should be entirely preventable.