Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines and the Australian HPV vaccination program

摘要

Australia was the first country in the world to commence a national vaccination program against human papillomavirus, using the quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine, Gardasil. This program is soundly based on the natural history of human papillomavirus infection and utilises the vaccine that has been shown to be highly effective in preventing human papillomavirus related diseases. The program is a population-based strategy offering the vaccine to all Australian women, aged between 12 and 26 years. Preliminary evidence suggests that the program has achieved high coverage and high compliance. This foreshadows that Australian women will now form the first cohort of young women in the world to be protected against a wide range of human papillomavirus related diseases.