Impact evaluation: Australian national HPV vaccination program

NCIRS evaluation of the impact of the national HPV vaccination program has found that HPV vaccination coverage is high and there has been a substantial reduction in the burden of HPV-related disease since the introduction of the vaccine in Australia. It was also found that adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) with HPV vaccine have been predominantly mild and transient in nature, with the vaccine safety record similar to that of other vaccines on the National Immunisation Program (NIP).

Australia became the first country in the world to have a fully funded HPV vaccine program through the NIP in 2007. The program first started with 12- to 13-year-old girls, using 3 doses of the 4-valent HPV (4vHPV) vaccine Gardasil, followed by boys in 2013, and is offered primarily through school-based programs. Catch-up vaccination programs have also been made available in the past. The program changed to 2 doses of the 9-valent HPV vaccine, Gardasil9, from February 2018. 

This second evaluation of the impact of the national HPV vaccination program, which was undertaken by NCIRS in 2020, involved a literature review, stakeholder assessments and analysis of vaccine coverage, vaccine safety and disease impact.  

The evaluation recommends continued monitoring of HPV vaccine coverage, AEFI and disease epidemiology to ensure that successes achieved to date are maintained and anticipated declines in cancer incidence are realised. It also makes a range of recommendations to enhance the program and further improve vaccine coverage and equity.

Read the full report here