HealthInfo West Coast-Te Tai Poutini
HPV vaccine (Gardasil)
The vaccine used to treat human papilloma virus or HPV in New Zealand is called Gardasil.
The vaccine is free to everyone in New Zealand from the ages of 9 to 26. It's given as an injection.
People who are aged 9 to 14 need two doses while older people need three doses over six months.
The HPV vaccine helps protect against:
- cervical cancer
- genital warts
- some mouth and throat (head and neck) cancers
- some cancers of the anal and genital areas.
How HPV is spread
HPV infections can be spread by any skin to skin contact.
HPV is easy to catch through having vaginal, anal or oral sex with someone who has the virus. It can be passed on even if the infected person has no symptoms.
You don't have to have penetrative sex to get it. Skin to skin contact, including fingers, hands, mouth and genitals, can also spread the virus.
Types of HPV
HPV types 6 and 11 can cause genital warts and HPV types 16 and 18 can cause abnormal changes to cells, particularly on the cervix, that can lead to cervical cancer. This type of HPV is called high-risk HPV.
The Gardasil vaccine protects against these types of HPV infection and so reduces your chances of getting genital warts or cervical cancer. The vaccination works best to protect you from HPV if you have it before you start having any form of sexual contact.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- Ministry of Health – HPV immunisation
Information from the New Zealand Government about the cervical cancer vaccine (Gardasil).
- National Screening Unit – About HPV
From the National Cervical Screening programme – gives information on human papillomavirus testing.
- Immunisation Advisory Centre – Gardasil 9
This page has information about the Gardasil 9 vaccine, including vaccine safety. It also has more in-depth information and provides references.
- The New Zealand HPV Project
Information about HPV and vaccination.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last updated September 2021.
Sources
Review key: HICES-20461
