About the Program
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women worldwide and is almost always caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Until now, the only effective way to prevent it has been to have regular Pap smears so that cancer cells can be detected and treated as early as possible.
Now, with the new vaccine, Gardasil®, young women and girls can be immunised against the strains of HPV that cause 7 out of 10 cervical cancers and 9 out of 10 cases of genital warts.
Anyone who has ever had sexual contact could have HPV – it is a very common virus and around 4 in 5 people will have been infected at some time. In most women, it will clear naturally from their system and not lead to cancer. But for some, it will.
That’s why it is important to vaccinate girls before they have been exposed to the virus - before they have had any sexual contact.
Starting in April 2007, the Australian Government will be providing the new vaccine free to girls aged between 12 and 13 through the National HPV Vaccination Program on an ongoing basis. There will also be a two year period where the vaccine will be provided free for girls and young women aged between 14-26 years.
- For girls in school, the program will start in April and parents will be asked to give consent for their daughters to participate in the program. By the end of 2008, all girls currently aged between 12-18 years will have had access to the vaccine in school. In some states, the vaccination program may be staggered, so that some schoolgirls are vaccinated in 2007 and the rest in 2008.
- For young women who are not in school and are still under 27 years, GPs and community immunisation clinics will provide the free vaccine from July 2007 until the end of June 2009.
The vaccine will be given in a series of three injections, spread out over a six month period.
Gardasil® does not protect against all strains of HPV that cause cancer. That’s why it’s still important for women to keep up to date with regular Pap smears, which detect the early signs of cervical cancer.
For HPV Vaccination Program launch information in your state / territory schools download a State/Territory HPV Vaccination Schedule (PDF 69 KB)
Page currency, Latest update: 03 April, 2007