Find answers to your questions about HPV and related information

It’s cancer of the cervix, which is the lower part of the uterus or womb, and is at the top of the vagina.  It’s caused by types of a common virus called human papillomavirus (HPV) that are easily spread through sexual contact.

About four out of five people have HPV infection at some time in their lives.  There are usually no obvious symptoms with HPV infections.  Most HPV infections clear naturally and don't develop into cervical cancer, but if abnormal cells occur and go untreated, cervical cancer can result many years later.

The most important risk factor for cervical cancer is infection with HPV.

Condoms provide some protection against HPV, but they cannot completely protect against infection. It’s still important to use condoms to protect against sexually transmitted infections.

Although it is necessary to have had HPV for cervical cancer to develop other factors contribute including smoking and diet. Women who smoke are about twice as likely as non-smokers to develop cervical cancer. Women with a diet low in fruits and vegetables also have an increased risk.

More than 99 percent of cervical cancer is linked to HPV infection.  Every year in New Zealand about 160 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 60 die from it.

Cervical cancer is the third most common cause of cancer in women aged 25 - 44 years in New Zealand.  Many other women have abnormalities in the cells of their cervix which are detected by cervical screening. These may require invasive treatment to prevent the development of cervical cancer.

The vaccine causes the body's immune system to produce its own protection (antibodies) against the HPV types known to cause 7 out of 10 cervical cancers (types 16 and 18) and 9 out of 10 cases of genital warts (types 6 and 11).  Getting the HPV vaccine before exposure to these HPV types helps provide protection.

The vaccine will also help protect against vulvar and vaginal cancer, cancer of the anus, mouth and throat cancer.

In the long term more than 30 lives may be saved every year.

If you are year 8 or upwards at school (approximately 12 to 18 years of age) you can receive the vaccine.  In Canterbury, schools are not providing the vaccine so you should make an appointment with your family doctor, health clinic or other health provider.

If you are in this age group but are no longer at school you can also receive the vaccine from your family doctor, health clinic or other health provider.

You are encouraged to discuss the decision to immunise with your parent or caregiver, or with the girls and young women in your care.

It's your choice to immunise, so make sure you find out all about it before you decide. This website includes links to more information.

Girls can get the vaccination without parental consent via their family doctor, health clinic or other health provider as long as the health professional is sure they fully understand all the risks and benefits.

The vaccine is available free to girls and young women born from 1 January 1990.

From 1 September 2008, young women born in 1990 or 1991 have been able to get the vaccine from their doctor, practice nurse or health clinic. Young women born in 1990 or 1991 have until 31 December 2011 to start the immunisation programme.

From 2009, most girls and young women attending year 8 and upwards at school (approximately 12 to 18) and those in that age range who are no longer at school, will be offered the vaccine through school.

However in Canterbury the vaccine is not being offered through schools but is available from family doctors, health clinics or other health providers.

If you're unsure whether a girl or young woman is able to have the vaccine or not, check with your health professional.

The safety and effectiveness of the vaccine has been assessed against international guidelines and the requirements of the Medicines Act 1981.

The decision to approve the vaccine in New Zealand took into account evidence from large clinical trials involving more than 20,000 women from 33 countries, including New Zealand.

The vaccine has been approved for use in more than 100 countries including Australia, the US, Canada and the European Union. Over 43 million doses of the vaccine have been distributed worldwide.

Ongoing monitoring of vaccine’s safety and effectiveness continues to reinforce the results from the clinical trials. The safety profile of the vaccine is well documented.

The HPV vaccine is a prescription medicine. Medicines have benefits and risks. Talk to your doctor or nurse regarding the benefits and risks of this vaccine and to check eligibility.

Anyone who has had a life-threatening reaction (hypersensitivity or anaphylaxis) to yeast or any other component of GARDASIL® should not be vaccinated with GARDASIL®. Talk to your health professional for more information.

The vaccine should not be given to pregnant women. If it is given before a woman knows she is pregnant there is no evidence of harm to the unborn baby.

Yes, a young woman who has already had sexual contact may still benefit from the vaccine, as it is unlikely she will have been infected with the 2 HPV types that cause 7 out of 10 cerviacl cancers and the 2 HPV types that cause 9 out of 10 genital warts.

Once women are sexually active they still need to have a smear test every three years between the ages of 20 and 70.

Yes.  The vaccine doesn't protect against all HPV types that can cause cervical cancer.  Once women are sexually active they still need to have a smear test every three years between the ages of 20 and 70.

HPV vaccine is licensed and available for private purchase, but is not government funded for boys as part of the National Immunisation Programme.

No country in the world is currently funding the HPV vaccine for boys/young men.

The initial trails of HPV vaccines showed that three doses provide a stable level of protection for at least five years. The vaccine induces a good immune memory and studies indicate that the efficacy of this vaccine is expected to be long-lasting. The on going trials that continue to measure the protection level of the HPV vaccine show that the level of protection is still present at 8.5yrs after the three dose primary course is completed. This protection is expected to be long lasting.

Studies will continue to monitor the protection the vaccine provides. Booster doses (as required for some other vaccines), are not expected to be needed for the Gardasil vaccine, but this is being monitored.

The vaccine contains tiny virus-like protein particles that mimic HPV but cannot cause infection.

Each 0.5ml dose of the vaccine also contains a small amount of aluminium, which stimulates the immune response.  Aluminium has been safely and effectively used in vaccines for over 70 years.

The vaccine also contains tiny amounts of sodium chloride (salt), L-histidine (an amino acid), Polysorbate 80, sodium borate and sterile water.  The vaccine contains trace amounts of yeast protein.  The vaccine does not contain preservatives, antibiotics or any human or animal materials.

There is no virus in this type of vaccine - you cannot become infected with HPV when you have the vaccine.  After vaccination, the body quickly starts making antibodies and white blood cells that protect against the four types of HPV the vaccine targets.

Studies have been going for five years so far and show that protection from HPV infection remains high after this period of time and suggest protection will last much longer.  These studies show the vaccine was effective in preventing persistent infection with HPV in 96% of women.

At present it is expected that a booster dose will not be required.

The vaccine is given as three injections in the upper arm, usually over a six-month period.

Usually, the second dose is given 2 months after the first dose, followed by a third dose 4 months after the second dose.

The research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association reveals that fewer than 1 per cent of patients - 54 people out of 100,000 vaccinated, experienced side effects. Those that did experience side effects the most commonly reported events included headaches, nausea and dizziness.

According to the NZ Ministry of Health, 146,955 doses of the HPV vaccine are recorded on the National Immunisation Register as having been administered in New Zealand to 30 June 2009. A total of 155 suspected adverse events following HPV immunisation had been received by CARM in the period to June 26.

The majority of reactions included "soreness, swelling or redness at the injection site, raised temperature, headache, nausea, skin reactions - mostly rash and fainting," according to CARM. Fainting incidents were described in 17 reports. The vaccine is well tolerated by the majority of young women who receive it, swelling and redness at the injection site are expected responses to most vaccines. 

Reactions reported from the HPV vaccine are similar to those from other vaccinations.

Some people experience minor side effects such as pain, redness and swelling at the injection site (the upper arm) and mild fever.

Other less common reactions include vomiting or fainting. This can follow any vaccination and it is recommended that girls eat breakfast and lunch and avoid excessive exercise on vaccination day.

Very rarely an acute hypersensitivity reaction, or anaphylaxis, has occurred after vaccination; usually within 10 minutes of vaccination.

Anaphylaxis can occur with any vaccine. Based on clinical studies and experience from overseas we can expect around 3 anaphylatic reactions per 1 million doses of vaccine administered. This is similar to the rates for other vaccines given to children and adolescents.

If anaphylaxis does occur, it can be treated. For this reason, girls are asked to wait for 15 to 20 minutes after vaccination. Every vaccinator is trained and equipped to deal with such a reaction.