Questions & Answers

• What is cervical cancer?
• What are the risk factors for cervical cancer?
• Why vaccinate?
• How do we get the vaccine?
• Do we need to give consent?
• Should young women be vaccinated if they have already had sexual contact?
• Once vaccinated, will young women still need to have cervical smear tests?
• Who can have the FREE cervical cancer vaccine?
• How is the vaccine given?
• How long does vaccine protection last?
• How safe is the vaccine?
• Are there any side effects?
• Who should not receive the vaccine?
• What does the vaccine contain?
• Can boys get immunised?

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What is cervical cancer?

• It's cancer of the cervix, which is the lower part of the uterus or womb, and is at the top of the vagina.
• It's caused by types of a common virus called human papillomavirus (HPV) that are easily spread through sexual contact.
• About four out of five people have HPV infection at some time in their lives.
• There are usually no obvious symptoms with HPV infections.
• Most HPV infections clear naturally and don't develop into cervical cancer, but if abnormal cells occur and go untreated, cervical cancer can result many years later.

What are the risk factors for cervical cancer?

• The most important risk factor for cervical cancer is infection with HPV.
• Condoms provide some protection against HPV, but they cannot completely protect against infection. It's still important to use condoms to protect against sexually transmitted infections.
• Although it is necessary to have had HPV for cervical cancer to develop other factors contribute including smoking and diet. Women who smoke are about twice as likely as non-smokers to develop cervical cancer. Women with a diet low in fruits and vegetables also have an increased risk.

Why vaccinate?

• More than 99 percent of cervical cancer is linked to HPV infection.
• Every year in New Zealand about 160 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 60 die from it.
• Cervical cancer is the third most common cause of cancer in women aged 25 - 44 years in New Zealand.
• Many other women have abnormalities in the cells of their cervix which are detected by cervical screening. These may require invasive treatment to prevent the development of cervical cancer.
• The vaccine causes the body's immune system to produce its own protection (antibodies) against the HPV types known to cause 7 out of 10 cervical cancers (types 16 and 18) and 9 out of 10 cases of genital warts (types 6 and 11).
• Getting the HPV vaccine before exposure to these HPV types helps provide protection.
• The vaccine will also help protect against vulvar and vaginal cancer, cancer of the anus, mouth and throat cancer.
• In the long term more than 30 lives may be saved every year.

How do we get the vaccine?

• If your daughter is attending year 8 or upwards at school (approximately 12 to 18 years of age) she will be able to receive the vaccine at school in most instances.
• The consent form that comes home from school will need to be signed and returned.
• If your school is not offering the vaccine, or you would prefer the vaccine not to be received at school, you can make an appointment with your family doctor, health clinic or other health provider.
• Girls and young women who are no longer at school can also receive the vaccine from their family doctor, health clinic or other health provider.

Do we need to give consent?

• Parents and girls are encouraged to discuss the decision to immunise together.
• It's your choice to immunise, so make sure you find out all about it before you decide. This website includes links to more information.
• In order to receive the free vaccine at schools, girls under 16 are required to return a consent form signed by their parent or guardian.
• Girls wanting to have the vaccination at school who are aged 16 and over can give their own consent, but will still need to sign and return the consent form.
• Girls can get the vaccination without parental consent via their family doctor, health clinic or other health provider as long as the health professional is sure they fully understand all the risks and benefits.

Should young women be vaccinated if they have already had sexual contact?

• Yes. Young women may still benefit from the vaccine because it is unlikely they will have been infected with both of the HPV types that cause 7 out of 10 cervical cancers and both types that cause 9 out of 10 genital warts.

Once vaccinated, will young women still need to have cervical smear tests?

• Yes. The vaccine doesn't protect against all HPV types that can cause cervical cancer. Once women are sexually active they still need to have a smear test every three years between the ages of 20 and 70.

Who can have the FREE cervical cancer vaccine?

• The vaccine is available free to girls and young women born from 1 January 1990.
• From 1 September 2008, young women born in 1990 or 1991 have been able to get the vaccine from their doctor, practice nurse or health clinic.
• Young women born in 1990 or 1991 have until 31 December 2011 to start the immunisation programme. If they haven't received the first of the three doses by this date they cannot start the programme.
• Most girls and young women attending year 8 and upwards at school (approximately 12 to 18) will be offered the vaccine at school.
• Girls and young women in the eligible age range who are no longer attending school, or who can't have the vaccine at their school for some reason, can get it from their family doctor, health clinic or other health provider.
• Girls born from 1992 onwards have until their 20th birthday to start the immunisation programme. If they haven't received the first of the three doses by their 20th birthday they cannot start the programme.
• If you're unsure whether a girl or young woman is able to have the vaccine or not, check with your health professional.

How is the vaccine given?

• The vaccine is given as three injections in the upper arm, usually over a six-month period.
• Usually, the second dose is given 2 months after the first dose, followed by a third dose 4 months after the second dose.

How long does vaccine protection last?

• Studies have been going for five years so far and show that protection from HPV infection remains high after this period of time and suggest protection will last much longer.
• These studies show the vaccine was effective in preventing persistent infection with HPV in 96% of women.
• At present it is expected that a booster dose will not be required.

How safe is the vaccine?

• The safety and effectiveness of the vaccine has been assessed against international guidelines and the requirements of the Medicines Act 1981.
• The decision to approve the vaccine in New Zealand took into account evidence from large clinical trials involving more than 20,000 women from 33 countries, including New Zealand.
• The vaccine has been approved for use in more than 100 countries including Australia, the US, Canada and the European Union. Over 43 million doses of the vaccine have been distributed worldwide.
• Ongoing monitoring of vaccine's safety and effectiveness continues to reinforce the results from the clinical trials. The safety profile of the vaccine is well documented.

Are there any side effects?

• Reactions reported from the HPV vaccine are similar to those from other vaccinations.
• Some people experience minor side effects such as pain, redness and swelling at the injection site (the upper arm) and mild fever.
• Other less common reactions include vomiting or fainting. This can follow any vaccination and it is recommended that girls eat breakfast and lunch and avoid excessive exercise on vaccination day.
• Very rarely an acute hypersensitivity reaction, or anaphylaxis, has occurred after vaccination; usually within 10 minutes of vaccination.
• Anaphylaxis can occur with any vaccine. Based on clinical studies and experience from overseas we can expect around 3 anaphylatic reactions per 1 million doses of vaccine administered. This is similar to the rates for other vaccines given to children and adolescents.
• If anaphylaxis does occur, it can be treated. For this reason, girls are asked to wait for 15 to 20 minutes after vaccination. Every vaccinator is trained and equipped to deal with such a reaction.

Who should not receive the vaccine?

• Anyone who has had a life-threatening reaction (hypersensitivity or anaphylaxis) to yeast or any other component of GARDASIL® should not be vaccinated with GARDASIL®. Talk to your health professional for more information.
• The vaccine should not be given to pregnant women. If it is given before a woman knows she is pregnant there is no evidence of harm to the unborn baby.

What does the vaccine contain?

• The vaccine contains tiny virus-like protein particles that mimic HPV but cannot cause infection.
• Each 0.5ml dose of the vaccine also contains a small amount of aluminium, which stimulates the immune response. Aluminium has been safely and effectively used in vaccines for over 70 years. The vaccine also contains tiny amounts of sodium chloride (salt), L-histidine (an amino acid), Polysorbate 80, sodium borate and sterile water.
• The vaccine contains trace amounts of yeast protein.
• The vaccine does not contain preservatives, antibiotics or any human or animal materials.
• There is no virus in this type of vaccine - you cannot become infected with HPV when you have the vaccine.
• After vaccination, the body quickly starts making antibodies and white blood cells that protect against the four types of HPV the vaccine targets.

Can boys get immunised?

• This government-funded immunisation programme is not available to boys. This may be reconsidered later.