• About Pap tests or Pap smears
• Who should have Pap tests or Pap smears?
• The human papillomavirus (HPV)
• The cervical cancer vaccine
• Pap tests after vaccination
• How does the vaccine work?
• Who should have the vaccine?
• Where to get the vaccine and costs
• Vaccine safety
• Abnormal Pap test (or Pap smear) results and treatment
• Cervical cancer

The cervical cancer vaccine

The HPV vaccine can prevent around 70% of cervical cancers if given to girls before the start of sexual activity.

A vaccine is now available which protects against the two high-risk HPV types most commonly linked with cervical cancer (types 16 and 18). HPV types 16 and 18 cause around 70% of cervical cancers.

The vaccine has been approved for use by the World Health Organization. Two versions of the HPV vaccine are used in Australia, which protect against the following types of HPV and are approved for use in the following age groups:  

Gardasil™	HPV types 16 and 18 (cause 70% of cervical cancers)
(CSL)	HPV types 6 and 11 (cause 90% of genital warts)
	Approved for use in females aged 9-45 years
	Approved for use in males aged 9-26 years
Cervarix™	HPV types 16 and 18
(GSK)	Approved for use in females aged 10-45 years

Both vaccine types are given in three doses across a four-six month period, in the upper arm. It is important to have all three doses as this improves the vaccine's effectiveness.  

Studies have shown that the vaccine provides good continuing protection against HPV. Studies are ongoing to determine whether a booster dose will be necessary in future.

For more detailed information about the cervical cancer vaccine visit Cancer Council's website cervicalcancervaccine.org.au.

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