HPV immunisation

Published

10 Jun, 2020

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in Australia. HPV is a virus that spreads easily and affects both males and females.^1,2 For some people, HPV infection goes away on its own and does not cause any health problems. When HPV does not go away, certain types of the virus can cause genital warts and other types can cause cancer.²

HPV is the most common cause of cervical cancer in females. About 70 to 80 percent of cervical cancer in females is caused by HPV.³ HPV is also associated with cancers of the anus, penis, vagina, vulva, mouth and throat.⁴

The best way to prevent genital warts and cancer from HPV is to get vaccinated. The vaccines available in Australia help prevent some types of HPV, including the ones that cause 70 to 80 percent of cervical cancer and most cases of genital warts.^3,5 Since the introduction of the vaccine, there has been a significant reduction (100% for females and more than 80% for males) in the number of genital warts diagnoses for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 21 years or younger at their first sexual health clinic visit.³

In Australia, the HPV vaccine has been provided free in schools to all students aged 12–13 years under the National HPV Vaccination Program since 2007. Young people up to the age of 19 can also get the vaccine free of charge through general practices and community immunisation services as part of the National Immunisation Program’s catch-up program.⁵

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Notes

• Data sourced from the National HPV Vaccination Program Register – the Australian Government – Department of Health Annual Immunisation Coverage Report 2017.
• Includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander females and males turning 15 years old in each reporting year.

Proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander females and males aged 15 years that commenced the HPV vaccine course who had completed all three doses, 2007 to 2017

About this measure

In 2007, the school-based National HPV Vaccination Program, a joint Commonwealth-state/territory initiative, was implemented in Australia. The program initially provided free HPV vaccine to female students aged 12-13 years and was extended to include male students in 2013.⁴ Catch‑up programs through schools were run from 2007 to 2009 for females aged 14–26 years, and from 2013 to 2015 for males aged 14–15 years.⁴

The vaccine was administered for both males and females in three doses over a period of about six months.⁴ From 2018, the new HPV vaccine, Gardasil 9, is being administered, with two doses considered sufficient if given at age 14 or under.⁶ Receiving a full course of HPV vaccine immunisations at acceptable minimum dose intervals is needed for full protection. Coverage refers to percentage of the population that have received all the recommended doses to complete the vaccine course.⁶

The monitoring and evaluation of uptake and coverage will provide insights into the effectiveness of the program over time. It is measured at age 15 as by that age children in all states and territories have had the opportunity to complete the vaccine course.

For a comparison with the broader Australian community see the NCCI 'HPV vaccination uptake'.

Current status

In 2017, more than three-quarters of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15 years old (79% of females and 77% of males) that commenced the HPV vaccination course had completed all three doses of the course.

Trends

Between 2007 and 2017, the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15 years old that commenced the HPV vaccination course who had completed all three doses of the course increased by 8% for females (from 71% in 2007 to 79% in 2017) and 19% for males (from 58% in 2007 to 77% in 2017).

About the data

These measures show the completion of three doses of human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV) course among those that commenced the course for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander females and males. The data are provided for adolescents turning 15 years old for each year from 2007 to 2017. The measure is:

The proportion of the female (or male) population aged 15 years for each year that commenced the HPV vaccination course who had completed all three doses of the HPV vaccine.

Data source

Data are based on vaccinations delivered through the National HPV Vaccination Program.⁶In 2007, the school-based National HPV Vaccination Program, a joint Commonwealth-state/territory initiative, was implemented in Australia. The program initially provided free HPV vaccine to female students aged 12-13 years and was extended to include male students in 2013.⁴ Catch‑up programs through schools were run from 2007 to 2009 for females aged 14–26 years, and from 2013 to 2015 for males aged 14–15 years.⁴

Young people up to the age of 19 can also get the vaccine through general practices and community immunisation services as part of the catch-up programs.⁶

Data caveat

While HPV vaccination uptake rates are available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the reliability of these rates are affected by the level of completeness of reporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status so should be interpreted in that context. ^3,6

References

Activity in this area

Data:

National HPV Vaccination Register – from the Australian Government – Department of Health Annual Immunisation Coverage Report 2017. Available from: https://doi.org/10.33321/cdi.2019.43.47 (accessed 21 May 2020)

Policy:

Australian Government Department of Health. Fifth National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections Strategy 2018–2022. Available from: https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ohp-bbvs...$File/ATSI-Fifth-Nat-Strategy-2018-22.pdf (accessed June 2020)

Australian Government Department of Health. National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2013–2023. Available from: https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/natsih-p... (accessed June 2020)

References

1. The Royal Women’s Hospital – Victoria 2020. About Sexually Transmitted Infections. Available at: https://www.thewomens.org.au/health-information/sex-sexuality/sexually-t... (accessed 10 June 2020).

2. Australia Government Department of Health 2020. Human Papillomavirus. Available at: https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/hpv-human-papillomavirus (accessed 10 June 2020).

3. Kirby Institute 2018. Bloodborne viral and sexually transmissible infections in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: annual surveillance report 2018. Kirby Institute, UNSW: Sydney, Australia.

4. Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation. The Australian Immunisation Handbook. 10th ed. Canberra: Australian Government Department of Health, 2013.

5. Australian Government Department of Health 2019. Human papillomavirus (HPV) immunisation service. Available at: https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/immunisation/immunisation-servic.... (accessed January 2022).

6. Australian Government Department of Health 2019. Communicable Diseases Intelligence Volume 43. Australian Immunisation Coverage Report 2017. Available at: https://doi.org/10.33321/cdi.2019.43.47 (accessed 21 May 2020)

Summary

In 2017, more than three quarters of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15 years old that commenced the HPV vaccination course had completed all three doses of the course In 2017, 79% of female and 77% of male Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15 years that commenced the HPV vaccination course had completed all three doses of the course.

HPV vaccination rates in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are increasingBetween 2007 and 2017, the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15 years that commenced who had completed all three doses of the HPV vaccination course increased by almost 10% for females and 20% for males.

Revision Type

Major

Version Number

1.0.0

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Data

Summary

In 2017, more than three quarters of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15 years old that commenced the HPV vaccination course had completed all three doses of the course

HPV vaccination rates in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are increasing