The HPV vaccine, Gardasil 9, can significantly decrease your chance 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 460 million doses of HPV vaccines have been distributed worldwide as of September 2021.
The Gardasil 9 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.
If you are aged 14 or under when you receive your first HPV vaccination you will need two doses 6–12 months apart, delivered as an injection in the upper arm.
If you are aged 15 and over you will need three doses of the vaccine.
People with significant immunocompromising conditions are recommended to receive three doses of the vaccine. The free vaccination program in schools is generally provided by specially trained nurses.
The HPV vaccine program has more information about the vaccine.