What is the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine?
Based on technology developed in Australia by a team led by former Australian of the Year, Professor Ian Frazer, Gardasil vaccine prevents infection from HPV strains 16 and 18 in 90-100% of cases if individuals are vaccinated before they are infected. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Australia’s regulatory agency for assuring that medical drugs and devices are safe and clinically effective, approved Gardasil on 16 June 2006 for females aged 9-26 and males aged 9-15 years. 1 Gardasil provides protection from 4 strains of HPV including types 16 and 18. Gardasil also provides protection from types 6 and 11 that cause 90% of genital warts and 10% of low grade cervical abnormalities. 3 The HPV vaccine only provides protection from HPV types which cause 20% of cervical cancer so is not a substitute for regular Pap smears. Women who have never had sex still need to have two yearly Pap smears. All women should still practice safe sex. In October, the US Centers for Disease Control a
