Material on the National HPV Vaccination Program site is being reviewed following the federal election on 24 November 2007. This revised web site will reflect the new government's policies, programs and priorities for the health and ageing portfolio.

Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing
Cervical Cancer-The National HPV Vaccination Program
photo of a young womanImage of a female GP
pink squarePhoto of a girl

Schools and School Communities

More specific implementation information regarding the school-based National HPV Vaccination Program.
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Starting in April 2007, the Australian Government will provide the new GARDASIL® vaccine free to all women and girls aged between 12 and 26 through the National HPV Vaccination Program.

The vaccine works by immunising girls against certain strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV) that are known to cause 7 out of 10 cervical cancers. The vaccine also guards against the strains of HPV that cause 9 out of 10 cases of genital warts.

The vaccination program for girls in school will start in April. All female students currently in secondary school will receive the vaccine over the next two years. The cervical cancer vaccine will also become part of the regular school-based immunisation program for 12 to 13 year olds.

The vaccine will be given in a series of three injections, spread out over a six month period. The optimal schedule is:

Schools in some states will administer the three doses of the vaccine over a slightly compressed timeframe in order to fit in with term schedules. This will not reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine.

As with other immunisation programs, parents and guardians must give consent for their daughters to receive the vaccine. Parental consent forms will be sent home with female students before the program commences in April.

The HPV vaccination program will be coordinated by local state and territory health departments. Schools should contact their local health department for information about how the vaccine will be delivered.

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