NEW HPV VACCINE FAQ

There has been lots of discussion about the new HPV vaccine recently. Here are some FAQ that Family Planning Western Australia has put out. If you have any other questions please post them in the 'comments' section below and I will try and have them answered.
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Gardasil Q&As (HPV vaccine)

Where can I get the vaccine and is it available now?
Gardasil, the cervical cancer vaccine, is going to be available free from July 1st for females aged 12-26 years, mainly through GPs (details here if your state will be providing – FPWA is).

How is the vaccine given?
Gardasil is administered via a series of three injections into the arm over a six month period.

If I get my daughter vaccinated does this mean she'll start having sex earlier? Young people are already vaccinated against rubella, and the same concerns were raised when rubella vaccination was first introduced. Young people rarely consider long-term health issues in their decisions to have sex; their concerns are often related to their peer group, close relationships and self-image.

Do I still need to have Pap smears once I've been vaccinated? Yes, as the vaccine only protects against certain types of HPV. All females, whether or not they have been vaccinated, should have regular Pap smears, which detect abnormal changes to cells in the cervix so treatment can start before cancer develops.

If I'm already sexually active should I still get vaccinated? Yes. The vaccine protects against four of the most common wart viruses. Even if you have already been exposed to one sort, you can still get benefit against the others.

I'm over 26 - can I still get the vaccine? Yes, but as the benefit is likely to be less the older that people are, the community can only afford to pay for those who will get the most benefit. You can get a prescription from your doctor for the vaccine, and a course of three injections costs about $450.

What's the link between HPV and cervical cancer? There are about 30 types of human wart virus that affect the genital area. Of these, about eight have been connected to the development of cancer in several parts of the body. Only a couple of these viruses are common in Australia, and protection against them is included in the vaccine. Most people are infected with these common viruses at some point in their lives, and the large majority get rid of the virus themselves over 1-2 years. The small number of people whose immune system finds it difficult to clear the virus may be at risk of developing cancer over the next 10-15 years. It is these people who will benefit from the vaccine.

Is it worth paying for my son to get vaccinated? Boys will benefit from vaccination because they are at risk of developing genital warts and of passing on the cancer-causing warts to sex partners. Boys who go on to include receptive anal sex in their activities are also at increased risk of anal cancer. Again, the community at this point would find it hard to afford to vaccinate boys, but hopefully this will happen in the future.

Are there any side effects of the vaccine? Gardasil has been shown to be very safe during large clinical trials, with any side effects being very minor. There have been some reports of increased minor illness/side effects at recent school vaccination sessions, and it is hard to assess whether this is due to a genuine increased likelihood of these side effects, or the powerful psychological effects that can often be seen in similar settings (the nocebo effect, opposite to placebo, where a harmless material gives rise to bad effects).