On 6th February, the Honourable Mark Butler MP, Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care, announced that Australia will move from two doses to a single dose of the Gardasil®9 human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for routine immunisation of most young people under the National Immunisation Program (NIP).
The change is based on the latest international scientific and clinical evidence which shows a single dose gives comparable protection against HPV infection in healthy young people.
This decision is supported by the Government’s expert advisory group, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), the World Health Organization immunisation expert group and the United Kingdom’s immunisation expert group.
The HPV vaccine is delivered free through school immunisation programs for children aged 12-13, but GPs also offer HPV vaccination, particularly for catch ups.