Stakeholder toolkit: Promote HPV vaccination

Background

The HPV vaccine protects against nine types of HPV that cause most cervical cancers, other HPV-related cancers and genital warts.

The vaccine is free and recommended for Australians of all genders aged 12 to 25 through the National Immunisation Program and is usually given to children aged 12 to 13 through the Secondary School Immunisation Program.

However, many Victorian children have missed out on the HPV vaccine putting them at higher risk of developing cervical cancer, other HPV-related cancers and genital warts, later in life. In fact, one in six 15-year-olds have missed out on getting the HPV vaccine in school, increasing their risk of these diseases in the future. ¹

People aged 25 and under who have missed out on the HPV vaccine are encouraged to catch up for free at their doctor, local council immunisation service or some pharmacies.

How you can help

Share the campaign messages in this toolkit through your networks and help increase HPV vaccination rates to save lives. We really appreciate your support.

Key messages

• The HPV vaccine protects against nine types of HPV that cause most cervical cancers, other HPV-related cancers and almost all cases of genital warts.
• HPV stands for human papillomavirus. It is a common sexually transmitted infection that spreads through genital skin to skin contact between people of any gender.
• HPV usually causes no symptoms and goes away by itself however; it can sometimes cause serious diseases including cancer.
• In Australia, the HPV vaccine is free and recommended for people aged 12 to 25, under the National Immunisation Program.
• If your child missed out on the HPV vaccine at school, they can catch up for free through a doctor, local immunisation service or at some pharmacies.
• The HPV vaccine is safe, effective and can protect you against HPV-related cancers and diseases in the future.
• Visit hpvvaccine.org.au for more information about HPV and the HPV vaccine.

Newsletter/website article

Headline: Get up to date on HPV vaccination

Did your child miss out on the HPV vaccine at school?

The HPV vaccine is provided for free to children aged 12 to 13 through school-based programs and protects against nine types of HPV which cause most cervical cancers, other HPV-related cancers and genital warts.

It’s important for Australians aged 25 and under who have missed the vaccine in school to catch up as soon as possible. You can book in for a free catch up through your doctor, local council immunisation provider and some pharmacies.

Find out more about the HPV vaccine and how to catch up at  hpvvaccine.org.au/catchup

Social media posts

Download these images to use in your social media posts and make sure you tag us at @cancervic.

• Option 1: Has your child missed out on their HPV vaccine? Australians aged 12 to 25 can catch up for free through their doctor, local council immunisation service or some pharmacies. Find out more on the @cancervic website: hpvvaccine.org.au/catchup
• Option 2: The HPV vaccine is safe, effective and protects against cervical cancer, other HPV-related cancers and genital warts. If your child missed getting their HPV vaccine in school, it’s important they catch up as soon as possible. Book in to catch up for free through your doctor, local council or some pharmacies. Find out more on the @cancervic website: hpvvaccine.org.au/catchup

HPV vaccination for teenagers video

Acknowledgement

This work is being delivered under Cancer Council Victoria’s Cervical Cancer Elimination Strategy, supported by Freemasons Foundation Victoria.

References

1. Hull B, Hendry A, Dey A, Brotherton J, Macartney K, Beard F. (2023). Annual Immunisation Coverage Report 2022. National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance. Australia. Available at: ncirs.org.au/reports