Wednesday, 3 September 2008

HPV Immunisation Programme

Immunisation enquiries from the general public can be directed to the Immunisation Advisory Centre 0800 466 863.

Alternatively, questions can be emailed to: HPV@moh.govt.nz

Further and updated information and resources are available on the Ministry of Health website as per the link below:

http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/immunisation-diseasesandvaccines-hpv-programme

Background to the HPV Immunisation Programme

The immunisation programme, which was launched on September 1, 2008 aims to prevent HPV infection and reduce the number of women in New Zealand who develop cervical cancer.

The Ministry of Health’s Senior Advisor in Public Health Medicine, Dr Alison Roberts, says the programme provides the opportunity for young women to be protected against the virus that causes most cervical cancers.

At the same time, she says it remains important for women to continue to have regular smear tests.

“Young women who complete the three-dose course will still need cervical smear tests when they get older as the vaccine does not protect against all of the causes of cervical cancer.’’

“In the long term it is expected that more than 30 lives a year will be saved. Fewer women will have to go through the stress of abnormal smear results and the extra tests, diagnoses and treatments that can follow.”

The HPV vaccine, GARDASIL®, protects against the two HPV types that cause seven out of 10 cervical cancers.

Since September 1, the free vaccination has been available for girls born in 1990 and 1991 from their family doctor, practice nurse, Maori or Pacific providers, youth health services and other health clinics and settings.

From 2009 the vaccine will be offered to Year 8 girls (aged 12 to 13 years) through nurses in schools in most parts of the country. A catch-up programme will run until the end of 2010 for the remaining eligible girls aged 12-18.

Dr Roberts says for best protection girls need to be vaccinated before they are likely to be exposed to HPV, which means before they start having any sexual contact. It is recommended that eligible young women who are sexually active are vaccinated as they are unlikely to have been exposed to all the HPV types the vaccine protects against.

Resources which include information about the programme, the vaccine side-effects and other questions and answers have been distributed to GPs.

In the future, the immunisation programme and the National Cervical Screening Programme (NCSP) will be working together to monitor the effects of the programme and to ensure vaccinated women know of the need to take part in the NCSP from the age of 20.