Topic: School Based Vaccination Program - HPV vaccination (Year 8 Girls)
Description
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) recommends various vaccines for adolescents to protect them through to adulthood.
Coordinated by Queensland Health, the School Based Vaccination Program provides parents/guardians with the opportunity to have their children vaccinated against certain diseases through their school at no cost. The Program is offered to children of secondary school age in state and non-state schools.
The following information provides advice on the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for Year 8 female students.
Practical advice
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the name for a group of viruses that cause skin warts, genital warts and some cancers, like cervical cancer. Different types of HPV can affect different parts of the body. Some of them can infect the genital area.
Cervical cancer (cancer of the cervix) is a disease where cancer cells grow and spread quickly throughout the body from the cervix. HPV can cause changes in cervical cells that may develop into cervical cancer. This usually takes more than 10 years to develop. Most women who have HPV clear the virus naturally and do not develop cervical cancer. In a small number of women HPV stays in the cells of the cervix. If the infection is not cleared, there is an increased risk of cervical cancer.
Anyone who has ever had sexual contact may have HPV. It's so common that four out of five people will have genital HPV infection at some time in their lives. Most genital infections with HPV do not cause any symptoms and people usually do not know they have the infection.
Regular Pap smears are still essential because the HPV vaccine does not prevent all cervical cancers.
Eligibility for vaccine
As part of the School Based Vaccination Program, every female Year 8 student in Queensland is being offered free HPV vaccination through their school. The vaccine is given in three doses over a six month period (usually at 0, 2 and 6 months). Parents are encouraged to discuss HPV vaccination with their daughter/s.
Vaccine is also free for adolescents not at school who would normally be in Year 8.
Is the free vaccine being offered to male students?
Free HPV vaccine is not currently available for male students. HPV vaccine is registered for use in males aged nine to 15 years and can be purchased with a prescription from a doctor.
What if my child can't be vaccinated at school or misses out because of illness or absence?
If your child can't be vaccinated at school:- they can attend a catch-up session if offered by the same service provider in the same calendar year (ask service provider for details); or
- you can take your child to your doctor before the end of the following year, however be aware you may have to pay a consultation fee. The vaccine is free.
What if my child wasn't vaccinated in the same calendar year that the vaccine was offered in the school program, but I would still like them to be immunised?
Female students who have received no doses of vaccine at school (while in Year 8) are eligible to receive their missing doses up to the end of the calendar year.
Female students who have received one or two doses of vaccine at school (while in Year 8), and who did not complete the three-dose course, are eligible to receive their missing dose/s up to the end of the calendar year.
If either the second or third doses are not completed in this period the remaining dose/s of vaccine will need to be purchased with a prescription from your doctor.
If your child has not received a dose of HPV vaccine when they were in Year 8, they are not eligible for free vaccine. You can purchase the vaccine with a prescription and have your child vaccinated by your doctor.
However, if your child received at least one dose of HPV vaccine when they were in Year 8, the second dose and/or third dose of vaccine is available free from your doctor until the end of the following year (ie. end of Year 9). If the course is not completed in this period the remaining dose/s of vaccine will need to be purchased with a prescription from your doctor.
Other resources
For further information, see the School Based Vaccination Program website
Contact the School Based Vaccination Program Co-ordinator:
- Southern Queensland 07 5509 7222
- Central Queensland 07 3142 1800
- Northern Queensland 07 4753 9034
Contact your local Queensland Health Public Health Unit:
- Brisbane Southside 07 3000 9148
- Brisbane Northside 07 3624 1111
- Cairns 07 4050 3600
- Darling Downs 07 4631 9888
- Gold Coast 07 5509 7222
- Logan 07 3412 2989
- Mackay 07 4968 6611
- Moreton Bay 07 3142 1800
- Mount Isa 07 4744 9100
- Rockhampton 07 4920 6989
- Sunshine Coast 07 5409 6600
- Townsville 07 4753 9000
- West Moreton 07 3413 1200
- Wide Bay 07 4184 1800
Visit the Immunise Australia website at www.immunise.health.gov.au
Contact your doctor.
Contact the Immunise Australia National Infoline: 1800 671 811
National Health and Medical Research Council, 2008.The Australian Immunisation Handbook (9th Ed)
Related content
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) and immunisation factsheet
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine factsheet
- National HPV Vaccination Program Register factsheet
- Genital Warts and Human Papillomavirus Safe Sex factsheet
Last Updated: 16th September, 2010
Date Valid to: 25th March, 2009
