HealthInfo West Coast-Te Tai Poutini
HPV & cervical cancer vaccine (Gardasil)
The human papilloma virus or HPV is an extremely common virus that infects different areas of your skin. Most people will get HPV at some point in their lives.
There are more than 100 different types of HPV. Most types do not give any symptoms and will go away before causing any problems.
However, HPV types 6 and 11 cause genital warts and HPV types 16 and 18 can cause abnormal changes to cells, particularly on the cervix, that can lead to 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 injection is free to girls, boys, young women and young men in New Zealand from the ages of 9 to 26. For those aged 9 to 14, it involves two injections. For those aged 15 to 26, it involves three injections. The injections are usually spread over six months. 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
This page has information about the Gardasil 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. Endorsed by clinical director, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Canterbury DHB. Last reviewed December 2016.
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Review key: HICES-20461
