UPDATE ON HPV VACCINATION IN AUSTRALIA

Australia implemented a national, publicly-funded vaccination program against human papillomavirus (HPV) in 2007. Initially the program targeted females aged 12-13 years, with catch-up of females aged 13-26 years to 2009. Since 2013, males aged 12-13 years have also been included in the program, with a two-year catch-up for males aged to 14-15 years. Three-dose coverage in 12-13 year-old females is approximately 71%, and estimated coverage rates over the female catch-up program were 70% in the school-based program (females 12-17 years) and similar to 30-50% in the primary-care-based program (female 18-26 years). Early data on cervical abnormalities, genital warts and HPV prevalence in cervical specimens suggest the impact of this program has been rapid and substantial, and that it also provided some indirect protection for young unvaccinated females and young males. Almost seven million doses of HPV vaccine have been delivered in Australia, and the vaccine safety profile remains favorable and comparable to that of other vaccines. Ongoing monitoring of coverage, impact and safety will be critical for the ongoing success of the program. It is important to emphasise that female cohorts offered vaccination should continue to attend cervical screening, since current generation vaccines do not protect against all types of HPV implicated in cervical cancer.