• 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

How does the vaccine work?

The vaccine does not contain HPV. It is made of a protein that looks like the outside of the virus. The body then makes antibodies, which protect you if you are exposed to the real virus.

Because the vaccine is made from a protein and not the actual virus, it can't cause cell changes in the cervix (abnormal Pap tests) and it can't cause cancer.

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.

Watch a video about how the cervical cancer vaccine works on Cancer Council's website cervicalcancervaccine.org.au.

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