The cervical cancer vaccine

A vaccine called Gardasil has been developed which protects against the two high-risk HPV types (types 16 and 18) which cause 70% of cervical cancers, and the two low-risk HPV types (types 6 and 11) which cause 90% of genital warts.  

Australia's Professor Ian Frazer and his team at the University of Queensland discovered how to make the vaccine particles, which form the basis of the HPV or cervical cancer vaccine.

Gardasil is used in the school-based National HPV Vaccination Program.

Another vaccine called Cervarix is available, which protects against the same two HPV types (types 16 and 18) which cause 70% of cervical cancers. It does not protect against genital warts. Some doctors may use this vaccine rather than Gardasil.

Cancer Council and the World Health Organization support HPV vaccination programs as part of a cervical cancer prevention plan that also includes regular cervical cancer screening (Pap tests) and sexual health education.

Over 65 million doses of the vaccine have been given safely, in over 100 countries around the world.



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The vaccine protects against the two high-risk HPV types (types 16 and 18) which cause 70% of cervical cancers, and two low-risk HPV types (types 6 and 11) which cause 90% of genital warts.

Design and partial content reproduced with the kind permission of the New Zealand Ministry of Health.

Females who have had the cervical cancer vaccine still need regular Pap tests. The vaccine is a prescription medicine. Medicines have benefits and risks. After reading this website, talk to your doctor about the benefits and risks of this vaccine and to check eligibility.

The World Health Organization endorses HPV vaccination programs as part of an integrated cervical cancer prevention strategy that includes cervical cancer screening and sexual health education. WHO Position Paper on HPV Vaccination, Weekly Epidemiological Record, 9 April 2009.