Gardasil

Gardasil is a vaccine used to protect against certain strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a group of related viruses, and certain types are associated with the development of cervical and other cancers, while others can cause genital warts.

  1. Original Gardasil (also known as Gardasil 4 or Quadrivalent):
    • HPV Type 6 and HPV Type 11: These strains are primarily responsible for about 90% of genital warts.
    • HPV Type 16 and HPV Type 18: Together, these strains account for approximately 70% of cervical cancers.
    • So, the original Gardasil was designed to protect against four HPV types: 6, 11, 16, and 18.
  2. Gardasil 9 (the current version):
    1. Contains the original four strains: 6, 11, 16, and 18.
    2. Plus an additional five strains: HPV Types 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58. These additional strains cause a significant portion of the cervical cancers not covered by the original Gardasil.

By including more HPV types, Gardasil 9 provides broader protection against cervical cancer. It covers approximately 90% of the HPV strains that are most commonly associated with cervical cancer, as opposed to the 70% covered by the original Gardasil.

Both versions of the vaccine also offer protection against many cancers of the vulva, vagina, anus, and oropharynx (back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils), as well as against genital warts.

Availability

In Australia, the Gardasil vaccine is available as part of the National Immunisation Program (NIP) to protect against HPV-related diseases. The inclusion of specific age groups and genders in the program has evolved over time.

  1. School-based HPV Vaccination Program:
    1. Boys and girls in the first year of high school (typically around 12-13 years old) are eligible to receive the Gardasil 9 vaccine for free as part of the school-based HPV vaccination program.
    2. The vaccine is was given as two doses with the second dose given 6-12 months after the first, however, as of 6th February 2023 a single dose schedule is used.
  2. Catch-up Program:
    1. Young individuals who missed the HPV vaccine in school can get the vaccine for free through the NIP until they turn 20. After turning 20, they would typically need to purchase the vaccine.
    2. Those aged 15 or older at the time of their first dose will require three doses for complete vaccination.
  3. Boys’ Inclusion:
    1. Initially, when the HPV vaccination program started in 2007, it targeted girls only, as the primary goal was to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer.
    2. However, recognizing that HPV also causes cancers in males (such as some throat, anal, and penile cancers) and to further reduce the circulation of the virus in the community, boys were included in the NIP starting from 2013.
  4. Other Specific Groups:
    1. Some specific populations, such as people with weakened immune systems and some others, may also be eligible for free vaccination under the NIP, even if they are older.
    2. It’s worth noting that while the NIP provides the vaccine for free to eligible groups, others can still receive the vaccine outside of the NIP, but they would generally need to purchase it.