School newsletter article
Safeguarding your teen from HPV in 2015
If your child is a teen, chances are they’ve already been vaccinated as an infant for everything from whooping cough to polio.
In 2015, only 12 and 13-year-olds can take advantage of the widely-used free vaccination program for HPV, reducing their risk of some cancers and genital warts.
Aren’t up-to-speed on HPV and the vaccine? Here’s what you need to know.
What is HPV?
HPV stands for human papillomavirus. The virus is sometimes called the ‘common cold’ of sexual activity– affecting four out of five men and women during some point in their lives.
Luckily a genital HPV infection usually causes no symptoms and goes away by itself after a year or so, but can sometimes cause serious illnesses like genital warts, cancers of the mouth and throat, as well as cervical, anal, vaginal, vulval and penile cancers.
Condoms offer some but not total protection from HPV and you can be exposed to HPV the first time sexual activity occurs, from only one partner.
Currently there is no treatment for HPV.
What is the vaccine?
The HPV vaccine can significantly decrease your child's chances of developing HPV-related cancers and genital warts.
Having the vaccine at 12–13 years of age is recommended by the Australian National Immunisation Program. The vaccine protects against two high-risk HPV types (16 and 18) that cause 70% of cervical cancers in women and 90% of HPV-related cancers in men. It also protects against two low-risk HPV types (6 and 11) which cause 90% of genital warts.
Three injections in the upper arm are given, ideally over a six month-period.
How can my child be vaccinated?
The free vaccine is given in the first year of secondary school. A consent card is distributed via schools: complete the card with your child and return it to the school. It’s important that your child receives all three doses for best protection.
The vaccine is also available for free through your local immunisation provider or doctor for age eligible children.
What if my child is aged 14 or older and wants to be vaccinated?
Males and females aged 14 and over can also benefit from the vaccine, but may incur out-of-pocket expenses. The vaccine’s full three-dose courseout-of-pocket costs $450 in total ($150 per dose). Check with your local immunisation provider or doctor.
The HPV vaccine is licensed for males aged 9–26 and females aged 9–45 butit provides best protection if given prior to starting sexual activity.
How effective is the vaccine?
Gardasil is the vaccine used in the National HPV Vaccination Program in Australia. Over 97 million doses of Gardasil have been given safely in over 120 countries around the world.
Research studies have shown early signs of the vaccine’s success including:
- a 77% reduction in HPV types responsible for almost 75% of cervical cancer
- 50% reduction in the incidence of high-grade cervical abnormalities in Victorian girls under 18 years of age
- 90% reduction in genital warts in heterosexual men and women under 21 years of age.
Is the vaccine safe?
The HPV vaccine is very safe but some people may experience mild side effects after vaccination, – similar to other vaccinations.
The most common side effects are pain, redness and/or swelling at the site of injections. These symptoms occur after around4 in 5vaccinations but are temporaryandshow that the immune system is responding to the vaccination.
More severe side effects such as anaphylactic (allergic) reaction are extremely rare.
Find out more about the vaccine at