Does the vaccine protect against all HPV types?
HPV are a group of over 100 different viruses. Some HPV types are more likely to lead to the development of cancer than others. At least 14 types of HPV have been found to cause cancer however the vaccine only protects against two out of the 14. Therefore, Pap tests are still critically important. Women between the ages of 18-70 years who have ever had sex need to have a Pap test every two years whether or not they have been vaccinated.
The vaccine does not protect against all types of HPV. One vaccine (Gardasil) protects against types 6, 11, 16, and 18; the other (Cervarix) protects against types 16 and 18. Women will not be protected if they have already been infected with the HPV types that are covered by the vaccine prior to vaccination. This is one reason why Pap tests are still critically important for women. How is the vaccine administered? The vaccine is given as three injections in the upper arm or thigh, over a six-month period. How much will it cost? Gardasil has been added to the National Immunisation Program and is free for girls and women aged 12 to 26. Cervarix is available at a cost of $450 for the full course of vaccination. How was the vaccine discovered? The vaccine is an Australian discovery, led by Professor Ian Frazer from the University of Queensland’s Centre for Immunology and Cancer Research (CICR). For 20 years Professor Frazer has been researching the link between papilloma viruses and cance
