Supporting people to reduce their cancer risk through human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination

Overview

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted virus that can infect different parts of the body. It causes almost all cervical cancers as well as a significant proportion of cancers of the vulva, vagina, penis, anus, mouth and throat.

Vaccination against HPV has been available under Australia’s National Immunisation Program since 2007 and is highly effective at preventing persistent HPV infection.

Optimising the delivery of school-based HPV immunisation programs to maximise equity and achieve high coverage is one of 10 strategic priorities in the National Strategy for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer in Australia.

The NSW Immunisation Strategy 2024-2028 (the Immunisation Strategy) aims to improve immunisation rates through all stages of an individual’s lifespan, from infancy through to adulthood. It also highlights the need to address inequities in knowledge, access, and uptake across the population to maximise the benefits of immunisation for all. The Strategy includes a target of 90% for HPV vaccination coverage in adolescents aged 15 years which is in line with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) goal to eliminate cervical cancer and achieve 90% HPV immunisation coverage in girls by the age of 15. 

Through the NSW School Vaccination Program, adolescents in year 7 are offered the recommended and funded HPV vaccine. Alternatively, adolescents may choose to be vaccinated by a general practitioner (GP), Aboriginal medical service or a pharmacist immuniser.

Evaluation methodology

Health Protection NSW monitors HPV vaccine uptake in males and females as part of monitoring progress towards the Immunisation Strategy’s targets. This is monitored through local health districts’ vaccination coverage which is a key performance indicate in their service level agreements. Additional monitoring occurs using vaccination coverage data from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). In depth analysis is also undertaken on AIR data by geographical location and provider type to identify areas of low HPV vaccine uptake.

Key findings

Since 2019, HPV vaccine uptake in adolescents has slowly been declining. School vaccination program HPV coverage for year 7 students was 66% in 2024 compared to 85% in 2019.

The ongoing decline has highlighted the importance of targeted initiatives in the Immunisation Strategy to improve uptake through the school vaccination program and embed immunisation into routine healthcare, particularly through GP or community pharmacy. Key initiatives undertaken under the Immunisation Strategy’s key priority areas include:

Enhance community awareness and understanding of immunisation

Health Protection NSW has collaborated with social and behavioural insights immunisation experts to conduct research into declining adolescent vaccination rates. The findings have supported the development of targeted strategies and actions aimed at increasing adolescent vaccination coverage.

Maximizing workforce capacity to support immunisation

Employing Aboriginal Immunisation Health Workers (AIHWs) in local health districts to target and support Aboriginal students is a strategic and culturally responsive approach to improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. AIHWs act as crucial links between communities, families, and the health service to help promote culturally safe and effective immunisation services.

Using data to drive performance, improve outcomes and address inequities

Health Protection NSW has developed interactive dashboards to identify and address gaps in immunisation and inform future initiatives. These data are available to local health districts to help them monitor immunisation program performance in their region.

Optimise the use of digital systems to support programs

In 2023, Health Protection NSW launched the Consent and Records Management for Immunisation (CARMI) application—a digital platform designed to streamline consent management of the school vaccination program. CARMI serves as a centralised consent portal, enabling efficient management of immunisation records, improving data accuracy, and enhancing user experience for both parents and health professionals. By digitising consent and record-keeping processes, CARMI supports program delivery through:

• Improved operational efficiency: reducing manual paperwork and administrative burden.
• Enhanced data integrity: ensuring secure and accurate capture of vaccination records.
• Greater accessibility: allowing parents and guardians to easily provide consent online.
• Real-time reporting: facilitating timely insights for program monitoring and evaluation.

This initiative reflects NSW Health’s commitment to leveraging digital solutions to strengthen public health infrastructure and improve service delivery.

During the first year of CARMI’s release 80% of parental consents were completed online.

Opportunities

NSW has a unique opportunity to achieve the elimination of cervical cancer through increased HPV vaccination coverage, in conjunction with the NSW cervical cancer screening program. Additionally, HPV vaccination has been demonstrated to prevent anal cancer, other genital cancers (penile, vulval, vaginal) and cancers of the mouth, tonsil and throat.

What is next?

Health Protection NSW will continue to focus on improving equitable access to HPV vaccine across the state. The Immunisation Strategy provides a framework to normalise immunisation and make it everyone’s business, embed immunisation activities into routine healthcare and strengthen community awareness and confidence in immunisation services.

The NSW Ministry of Health will continue to support LHDs to embed hepatitis C testing into routine care, guided by clinical leads and peer networks.

Optional supporting documents

• NSW Immunisation Strategy 2024–2028 (PDF)
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) immunisation data
• National Strategy for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer in Australia | Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing