Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
Information about the National Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Program funded under the Immunise Australia Program.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the name for a group of viruses that cause skin warts, genital warts and some cancers. Many different types of HPV can affect different parts of the body. Some of these types can infect the genital area. Warts on other parts of the body, such as the hands, are caused by different HPV types.
HPV types that can cause genital warts or cervical cancer can be spread by direct, skin-to-skin contact during all types of sexual activity with a person who has the virus. Anyone who has ever had sexual contact could have HPV – it is so common that four in five people will have had genital HPV infection at some time in their lives. That is why it is important to vaccinate girls before they have been exposed to the virus - before they have had any sexual contact.
Most genital infections with HPV do not cause any symptoms and people do not know they have the infection. HPV infection caused by HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18 is vaccine preventable. Types 16 and 18 can lead to cervical cancer. Types 6 and 11 are associated with genital warts.
Regular Pap smears are still essential because the HPV vaccine does not prevent all cervical cancers. Pap smears detect abnormal changes to cells in the cervix so treatment can start before cancer develops. The current cervical screening recommendations are that women should have a Pap smear every two years from the age of 18 or two years after having sex, whichever is later.
HPV Vaccination program:
On 29 November 2006, the Australian Government announced funding for a HPV vaccination program. The HPV vaccination program is listed on the National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule and funded under the Immunise Australia Program. There is currently an ongoing school-based program routinely delivered to girls in the first year of secondary school. From 2007 to 2009 there was a time-limited catch-up program delivered through schools, general practices and community immunisation services.There are two HPV vaccines listed on the NIP for this cohort, Gardasil® and Cervarix®. Gardasil was included on the NIP in April 2007, and Cervarix® was included on the NIP in July 2008. As Gardasil® was the first vaccine available on the NIP it is used in all states and territories due to contractual obligations.
Immunisation against HPV is achieved with a course of three doses of vaccine, over a 6 month period. For technical information or information about the vaccine, refer to the HPV section of the Australian Immunisation Handbook 9th Edition 2008 (NHMRC).
Data on the National HPV Vaccination Program is provided by the National HPV Vaccination Program Register. This register is legislated to monitor and evaluate the vaccination program and is operated by the Victorian Cytology Service.
HPV vaccination doses administered through general practice and in other community settings may be incompletely notified to the Register. The extent of under notification may differ between States and Territories.
School-based program:
The National HPV Vaccination Program provides the HPV vaccine for all females through school programs at age12-13 years. In NSW, Victoria, NT and the ACT students are vaccinated in Year 7 (age 12) in high school. In Western Australia students are also vaccinated at age 12, but in the last year of primary school. In Queensland and South Australia, girls are vaccinated in the first year of high school which is Year 8 (age 13 years). In Tasmania some councils routinely deliver the HPV vaccination program in the last year of primary school (Year 7, age 12) whereas others deliver the program in the first year of high school (Year 8, age 13).
If you want your daughter to participate in the vaccination program, you will need to give your consent. Your daughter will bring a parental consent form home from school for you to sign. For more information about the school-based program, contact your daughter’s school or your State or Territory Health Department.
The World Health Organization proposes using 15 years as the reference age for HPV vaccination coverage for the purposes of international comparison. National HPV vaccination data for girls aged 15 in 2009 shows 70.8% of girls completed the full course of the HPV vaccine.
Catch-up program:
The catch-up program was made up of two components; a school-based program and a community-based program.The school-based catch-up program for 14 to 18 year old girls ceased at the end of the school year in 2008.
Between 2007 and 2009 through the National HPV Vaccination Catch-up Program (both school and community based), 72% of girls aged 14 and 15, and nearly 66% of girls aged 16 and 17 received the full three doses need to protect them from HPV.
The data from the National HPV Vaccination Catch-up Program shows the coverage rate for women aged 18-19 years who completed the full course was 38% and shows that at least 30% of the cohort of women aged 20-26 years completed the full course.
Based on previous efforts to vaccinate young adult women in a GP vaccination program the GP catch-up program coverage rates were higher than was anticipated. The young women’s coverage for this program is better than the adult measles, mumps and rubella campaign in 2000, for which the coverage rate was estimated to be 10%.
Lower coverage rates in the upper age of the cohort are to be expected as the HPV vaccine is most effective before the commencement of sexual activity.
The National HPV Vaccination Program Register
The National HPV Vaccination Program Register (HPV Register) collects data to evaluate the impact of the HPV Vaccination Program on cervical cancer rates, to issue reminders if the course is incomplete, to issue confirmation the course is complete and to contact vaccine recipients if booster doses are required.Information is not sought about your sexual history. Personal details will be kept confidential. You can decline having your details included in the HPV Register, however it will then not be possible to contact you about missed or booster doses in the future.
For further information visit the HPV Register website or call 1800 478 734.
| State | ACT | NSW | NT | QLD | SA | TAS | VIC | WA | NAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. Doses | 5,508 | 104,738 | 3,985 | 66,992 | 23,571 | 7,047 | 81,283 | 30,490 | 323,614 |
| % | 79.6% | 73.0% | 76.1% | 71.1% | 72.4% | 63.7% | 76.1% | 64.7% | 70.8% |
- Data extracted from the NHVPR as at 22 MAR 2011
- Includes only eligible consumers and vaccinations given as part of the National HPV Vaccination Program
- Includes valid doses and too close doses for Clinically Complete Consumers
- Population is Estimated Resident Population provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics - Cat 3101.0 Australian Demographic Statistics, Tables 51 to 59: Estimated Resident Population By Single year of Age by State and Territory, published June 2010 for 2010.
- Age is age as at date of Estimated Resident Population estimate
- Coverage is calculated as doses administered and reported to the NHVPR / estimated resident population expressed as a percentage
- Excludes consumers who do not wish their details to be recorded on the HPV Register
HPV Vaccination Coverage by dose number, age in years as at mid 2007 and place of vaccination, as notified for the National HPV Vaccination Program catch up cohorts (Women vaccinated between April 2007-December 2009) | ||||||
| Place of Vaccination | School Program | School Catch Up | School Catch Up | GP/community | GP/community | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (in years as at mid 2007) | 12-13 | 14-15 | 16-17 | 18-19 | 20-26 | |
| Population (as at mid 2007) | 275,597 | 277,689 | 282,408 | 281,065 | 1,031,500 | |
| Total No of Doses Notified | 649,310 | 652,014 | 624,410 | 433,856 | 1,278,678 | |
Coverage rate as at 21 Mar 2011 | Dose 1 | 83% | 84% | 81% | 64% | 52% |
 | Dose 2 | 80% | 79% | 75% | 53% | 42% |
| Dose 3 | 73% | 72% | 66% | 38% | 30% |
Notes:
- Data extracted from the NHVPR as at 22 MAR 2011
- Includes only eligible consumers and vaccinations given as part of the National HPV Vaccination Program
- Includes valid doses and too close doses for Clinically Complete Consumers
- Population is Estimated Resident Population provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics as at 30/06/2007
- Age is age as at date of Estimated Resident Population estimate
- Coverage is calculated as doses administered and reported to the NHVPR / estimated resident population expressed as a percentage
- Excludes consumers who do not wish their details to be recorded on the HPV Register
- Data is cumulative so covers all people over a three year period within each cohort (April 2007-December 2009)
Page last modified: 04 April, 2011