Human papillomavirus vaccine – frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Icon of vaccine vial with checklist
Icon of vaccine vial with checklist

NCIRS fact sheets, FAQs and other resources

Key points

  • Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection in both males and females.
     
  • Most HPV infections clear on their own without any symptoms; however, a small proportion don’t clear and can cause cell changes that can progress to cancer over time.
     
  • HPV vaccination is provided free for adolescents and young adults aged 9–25 years under the National Immunisation Program (NIP).
     
  • Adolescents aged 12–13 years are routinely offered the 9vHPV vaccine for free in Year 7 through the school vaccination program.
     

Last updated: 3 November 2025

FAQs

What is human papillomavirus (HPV) and how common is it?

HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection that affects both males and females. Around 90% of people will be infected with HPV during their lifetime and most people will acquire an HPV infection within a few years of becoming sexually active. 

Over 200 types of HPVs have been identified, of which 12 can cause changes to human cells – usually over many years – that can progress to cancer.

Cancers caused by HPV infection include cervical, vaginal, vulval, penile, anal and some head and neck cancers (occurring in the back of the mouth or throat known as the oropharynx). 

Of these, HPV 16 and HPV 18 are the most common and are responsible for about 77% of all cervical cancers, 87% of anal cancers and 85% of HPV-related head and neck cancers. 

HPV types 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58 are the next most common contributors to cervical cancer, accounting for nearly 18% of cases.

HPV types 6 and 11 do not cause cancer but can lead to genital warts and the rare disease recurrent respiratory papillomatosis in which warty growths occur in the airways. 

However, most HPV infections are harmless, show no symptoms and are contained by the immune system within a couple of years.

How is HPV spread?

HPV is most commonly spread through sexual contact, including skin-to-skin contact during sex. 

Most people with HPV infection don’t show any signs or symptoms, but they can still pass the virus on to others. Condom use can reduce the risk of acquiring HPV infection but does not offer total protection.

Which HPV vaccines are available in Australia? 

The 9vHPV vaccine Gardasil9 is the only HPV vaccine currently used in Australia and has been available since 2018. It protects against nine HPV types – 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58 – which are associated with cancer and genital warts.

Before 2018, two HPV vaccines were available: 

  • the quadrivalent (4vHPV) vaccine Gardasil, which protects against HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18
  • the bivalent (2vHPV) vaccine Cervarix, which protects against HPV types 16 and 18, with some cross-protection against other cancer-causing types. 

Both the 4vHPV vaccine and 2vHPV vaccine are no longer used in Australia.

Who is recommended to receive an HPV vaccine?

The 9vHPV vaccine is recommended for adolescents and young adults from 9–25 years of age. 

HPV vaccination is also recommended for the following groups, regardless of age:

  • people with an immunocompromising condition
  • all men who have sex with men.  

HPV vaccination is not routinely recommended for adults aged 26 years and over, but may be considered for: 

  • individuals at increased risk of acquiring HPV infection, such as those leaving a long-term monogamous relationship (e.g. after divorce) who are likely to be exposed to new HPV types
  • people who are unable to clear HPV infection, including those who have been diagnosed with or have a history of HPV-related pre-cancerous or cancerous lesions. 

A decision to vaccinate should consider prior HPV exposure and future risk of infection and related disease. 

More details on HPV vaccination recommendations can be found in the Human papillomavirus (HPV) chapter of the Australian Immunisation Handbook. 

Note: Vaccination does not replace the need for cervical screening – all women and people with a cervix should undergo cervical screening if they have ever been sexually active.

Who is eligible to receive a free HPV vaccine under the NIP?

The 9vHPV vaccine is available for free under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) for people aged 9–25 years. 

HPV vaccines are primarily delivered through school-based vaccination programs for adolescents aged 12–13 years, and are also available through other health providers, including pharmacies.

How many doses of the 9vHPV vaccine are recommended? 

One dose of the 9vHPV vaccine is recommended for routine vaccination of adolescents and young adults 9–25 years of age.

The recommended schedule for adults aged 26 years and over, and people who are immunocompromised at any age, is 3 doses, with dosing intervals of:

  • 2 months between dose 1 and dose 2 (minimum acceptable interval of 4 weeks)
  • 4 months between dose 2 and dose 3 (minimum acceptable interval of 12 weeks). 

If doses are given at shorter intervals than the acceptable minimum, additional doses may be needed to ensure adequate protection.

If a person was vaccinated with the 2vHPV or 4vHPV vaccine, do they need to be revaccinated with 9vHPV (Gardasil9) vaccine?

Revaccination with the 9vHPV vaccine is not routinely recommended for people who have received the 2vHPV or 4vHPV vaccine. 

All three vaccines protect against HPV types 16 and 18, which cause most HPV-associated cancers (around 77%). The 9vHPV vaccine also protects against five additional HPV types, which cause a further 18% of cervical cancers. Some cross protection against these types is already provided by both the 2vHPV and 4vHPV vaccine. 

For previously vaccinated adults, cervical screening is the best way to detect and prevent cervical cancer caused by these additional HPV types.

What are the common side effects of HPV vaccines? 

Over 80% of people who have an HPV vaccine experience minor reactions at the injection site, including pain, redness and swelling. These symptoms can last for 1–2 days.

Further information on common reactions that may occur after vaccination can be found in the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care resource ‘Following vaccination – what to expect and what to do’.

Are there any rare side effects that can occur after receiving an HPV vaccine?

HPV vaccines have been in use globally for nearly 20 years and shown to be safe through extensive clinical trials and long-term monitoring. 

Large population-level studies, including from Australia and the US, and safety reviews consistently found no link between receiving an HPV vaccine and rare adverse events, such as new-onset autoimmune disease, primary ovarian insufficiency, complex regional pain syndrome or postural orthostatic tachycardia. 

An extensive WHO Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety review of the data on HPV vaccine safety concluded that there is no causal link between HPV vaccine and these rare conditions. 

In some people, fainting or related symptoms like dizziness can occur in response to vaccination. 

Fainting after receiving the HPV vaccine is rare (7.1 per 100,000 doses) and usually resolves with simple treatment, such as lying down, having adequate food and drink intake and reassurance. 

Anaphylaxis may occur very rarely after HPV vaccination (see ‘Are there any contraindications for receiving an HPV vaccine?’ below).

Are there any contraindications for receiving an HPV vaccine?

HPV vaccines are contraindicated (i.e. must not be given) for individuals who have had anaphylaxis (i.e. a severe allergic reaction): 

  • to a previous HPV vaccine dose
  • after exposure to any component of HPV vaccine
  • to yeast.
Can a person receive an HPV vaccine at the same time as other vaccines?

HPV vaccines can be given at the same time (i.e. co-administered) as other vaccines, including COVID-19, influenza, meningococcal, hepatitis B and pertussis-containing vaccines, if required. 

If only two vaccines are co-administered, it is recommended to give one vaccine into each limb. If two vaccines need to be administered in the same muscle, there should be a distance of 2.5 cm between injections.

Can HPV vaccines cause cancer?

The HPV vaccines registered in Australia cannot cause cancer. 

HPV vaccines are made using recombinant DNA technology. A protein from the surface of the HPV virus is grown, and assembles into ‘virus-like particles’ that mimic the outer layer of the virus. 

After vaccination, the body’s immune system recognises these particles and produces antibodies against the outer coat protein of HPV. 

There is no live or weakened virus in the vaccine. The protein used to make the vaccine does not contain any genetic material, including viral DNA, and cannot replicate. Therefore, it cannot cause HPV infection or any related diseases.

How is the safety of HPV vaccines monitored?

The TGA assesses the quality of every batch of vaccine, including HPV vaccine, before it is distributed in Australia. It also collects, analyses and reports data on vaccine side effects once a vaccine is in use. 

Individuals and healthcare providers can also report side effects directly to the TGA. 

In Australia, AusVaxSafety actively collects information from individuals via SMS regarding side effects experienced after vaccination, including HPV vaccination. Experts analyse this information to detect any safety problems as soon as possible. These data are publicly available and provide strong reassurance of ongoing safety.

How effective are HPV vaccines at preventing HPV-related cervical disease? 

A single dose of the 9vHPV vaccine is highly effective (>96%) in preventing persistent-type specific infection in girls and women. 

In females aged 9–25 years, a single dose of either 4vHPV or 2vHPV vaccine has been shown to be as effective as 2 doses of 4vHPV and or 3 doses of 2vHPV, respectively, in protecting against HPV types 16 and 18.

Since Australia’s HPV vaccination program commenced in 2007, rates of HPV types targeted by the 4vHPV vaccine have declined by up to 94% among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, translating to anticipated reductions in cervical cancer incidence over time.

How effective are HPV vaccines at preventing other types of HPV-related diseases?

In Australia, rates of genital warts – which are caused by HPV – have declined by more than 90% in younger vaccinated populations. 

Among men, HPV vaccination has prevented:

  • more than 85% of persistent anogenital infections and external genital lesions caused by 4vHPV types
  • 95% of intra-anal HPV infection and 75% of high-grade anal intraepithelial neoplasia attributable to HPV in men who have sex with men. 

HPV vaccination in Australia has also reduced cases of juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, a rare disease that occurs when infants are exposed to maternal HPV types 6 or 11 during childbirth.

How effective are HPV vaccines at preventing cervical cancer?

HPV vaccination has been demonstrated to prevent cervical cancer. 

Long-term studies (more than 10 years after vaccination) on the effectiveness of HPV vaccines from Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden showed an 86–92% reduction in the cervical cancer incidence among women vaccinated against HPV at age 16 years or younger. The vaccine was most effective when given at 12–13 years of age but still showed moderate effectiveness – around 68% – among those vaccinated in their late teens (age 17 years and older). 

Clinical trial data show that HPV vaccination prevented 90–100% of cervical and precancerous lesions in females aged 16–26 years. 

Data from the US have shown declines in cervical cancer mortality among women under 25 years of age – a cohort protected against cervical cancer by HPV vaccines – between 2016 and 2021.

How long does protection from HPV vaccination last?

Vaccination provides long-term protection against HPV infection. 

Real-world vaccine effectiveness studies show that protection against HPV-related infection is maintained for over 10 years following a single dose of a 4vHPV or 2vHPV vaccine, and at least 3 years for 9vHPV vaccine.

Is cervical screening recommended if a person has received an HPV vaccine?

Women aged 25–74 years should continue cervical screening every five years, as per national guidelines under the National Cervical Screening Program, even if they have received an HPV vaccine. 

HPV vaccines do not protect against every HPV type that can cause precancerous or cancerous changes of the cervix. 

Cervical screening detects infection with any of the 12 high-risk HPV types. If precancerous changes are found, they can be treated to prevent the development of cervical cancer. 

Cervical screening can be done by a doctor or nurse, or self-collection where people can take their own sample. More information about the National Cervical Screening Program is available on the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing website.

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