A vaccine called Gardasil 9 has been developed which can significantly decrease your child's chances of developing HPV-related cancers and genital warts.
HPV-related cancers include almost all cancers of the cervix, and a proportion of cancers of the anus, vulva, vagina, penis and throat.
Over 270 million doses of HPV vaccines have been distributed worldwide as of May 2017.
The vaccine provides fully vaccinated people with protection against nine types of HPV, including:
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types 16 and 18, the two HPV types that cause the majority of HPV-related cancers
- the five next most common HPV types associated with cervical cancer (types 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58)
- two non-cancer-causing HPV types (types 6 and 11) which cause 90% of genital warts.
People who are aged 14 or under when they receive their first HPV vaccination will need two doses 6–12 months apart, as an injection in the upper arm. People aged 15 and over need three doses of the vaccine.
Go to The HPV vaccine program section for more information about the vaccine.