The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a family of more than 100 different strains of viruses. Some strains of HPV cause harmless warts, but some can cause cancer. An HPV vaccine can protect against certain strains, including the ones most likely to cause cancer.
Key points
Many people are infected with HPV but don't know they are because they don't have any symptoms.
HPV infection, even if you don't have any symptoms, can lead to cancer if not treated.
Having regular cervical smears helps to pick up changes caused by unknown HPV infection.
An HPV vaccine is now available and can protect you against several types of HPV, including some that have been linked to cancer.
In New Zealand, the HPV vaccine is available free for everyone aged 9–26 years. It is recommended to be given to children aged 11–12 years.
What is HPV?
The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a family of more than 100 different strains of viruses. Some strains of HPV cause harmless warts, but some can cause cancer.
The HPV strains that cause warts on your hands or legs are harmless. They are different to the strains that cause genital warts and the ones that can lead to cancer.
About 30 types of HPV put you at risk for cancer and can lead to cancers of the cervix, vulva, vagina and anus in women, or cancers of the anus and penis in men, and throat cancers for anyone. (The Immunisation Advisory Centre, NZ, 2017)
How is HPV spread?
Genital HPV infection is usually passed on through sexual contact with an infected partner. Correct usage of latex condoms greatly reduces the risk of catching or spreading HPV but doesn't take it away completely.
Most people with HPV virus infection don't know they have it. This is why women should have regular cervical (Pap) smears to pick up changes in your cervix (caused by unknown HPV infection) that might lead to cancer if not treated.
HPV vaccine
(Ministry of Health, NZ, 2016)
An HPV vaccine can protect against certain strains, including the ones most likely to cause cancer. In New Zealand, the HPV vaccine is available free for everyone aged 9 to 26 years. It is recommended to be given to children aged 11–12 years.
For children aged 9–14 years, the HPV vaccine is given as 2 doses, at least 5 months apart. This age group develops a stronger immune response than those vaccinated when they are older.
Children aged 15 years and older need 3 doses of the vaccine, spaced over 6 months.
The HPV vaccine currently recommended in New Zealand protects against the 4 most common strains of HPV: 6, 11, 16 and 18. These are responsible for most of the cases of cancer and almost all of the cases of genital warts. The vaccine also protects against 5 other strains that can cause cancer.
The vaccine works by causing your body’s immune system to produce its own protection (antibodies) against the HPV types most likely to cause cancer or genital warts. If an immunised person comes into contact with HPV, the antibodies in their blood fight the virus and protect them against being infected. It usually takes several weeks after vaccination to develop protection against HPV. Read more about the HPV vaccine.
The HPV vaccine is only able to prevent HPV infection. It does not treat the infection. 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.
Dr Jeremy Tuohy is an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist with a special interest in Maternal and Fetal Medicine. Jeremy has been a lecturer at the University of Otago, Clinical leader of Ultrasound and Maternal and Fetal Medicine at Capital and Coast DHB, and has practiced as a private obstetrician. He is currently completing his PhD in Obstetric Medicine at the Liggins Institute, University of Auckland.
Angela is a pharmacist in the Quality Use of Medicines Team at Waitematā District Health Board. She has experience in hospital pharmacy in New Zealand and in the UK, and was previously a medical writer for Elsevier in The Netherlands. Angela is interested in promoting the safe use of medicines, particularly high-risk medicines.
Credits: Health Navigator Editorial Team. Reviewed By: Dr Jeremy Tuohy, Obstetrician & Researcher, University of Auckland; Angela Lambie, Pharmacist, Auckland
Last reviewed: 08 Oct 2020
Since the beginning of 2017, the HPV vaccine has been made free for everyone aged 9–26, including boys. It had previously only been free for girls. The HPV immunisation programme has been available in New Zealand since 2008.
Both girls and boys in Year 8 are offered the vaccine through their school, or through their GP if a school-based vaccination programme isn’t available.
Image credit: Pixabay
Many parents have questions about HPV and the vaccine. Here are 5 frequently asked questions and the answers:
1. What is HPV?
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the name given to a family of common sexually transmitted viruses. HPV is spread through sexual intercourse and sexual skin-to-skin contact. It’s estimated 80% of people have had an HPV infection at some stage in their life.
Most HPV infections don’t cause any symptoms and clear up on their own. However, HPV can cause several types of cancer including cervical, throat, mouth, penis and anal cancer, as well as genital warts.
2. Why should my child be vaccinated?
The HPV vaccine provides protection against a range of cancers and genital warts. It’s free for everyone aged 9–26 years of age, regardless of gender. Vaccinating your child helps stop the spread of HPV and reduces cancer diagnoses later in life.
In schools, 2 doses of Gardasil 9 is given to children aged under 14 years, and in 3 doses to young people aged 15 years and older.
3. Isn’t the age group a bit young?
It’s best if your child is vaccinated before they start being sexually active. That’s because the vaccine works better before your child is exposed to the viruses. It’s hard to know when your child will start engaging in sexual contact, but many children start experimenting sexually at puberty, and some even earlier.
4. Is the vaccine safe?
As with any vaccine, there is a small chance of side effects. The most common side effects are pain, swelling and redness at the injection site. The most serious side effect of any vaccination is anaphylaxis (an allergic reaction), which usually occurs within minutes of receiving a vaccine and is extremely rare.
When you receive any vaccination, you will be asked to wait 20 minutes so medical treatment can be given if anaphylaxis occurs.
5. Where can I find more information?
If you have any questions, please talk to your GP or healthcare provider. There are also several websites with information about HPV and the vaccine
Note: This resource is from overseas so some details may be different in New Zealand, eg, phone 111 for emergencies or, if it’s not an emergency, freephone Healthline 0800 611 116.
Information for healthcare providers on human papillomavirus (HPV)
The content on this page will be of most use to clinicians, such as nurses, doctors, pharmacists, specialists and other healthcare providers.
In 2018, the National Cervical Screening Programme (NCSP) changed the first step in the screening pathway from liquid-based cytology to primary human papillomavirus (HPV) screening.
HPV testing is recommended by the World Health Organization and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as the primary screening method for cervical cancer.
Free HPV vaccination is now available for all New Zealand residents regardless of gender from the ages of 9–26, as well as for all non-residents under 18 years of age.
The vaccine available was changed in 2017. Gardasil 9 replaced Gardasil and covers HPV types 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58, which collectively are responsible for 20% of genital and oropharyngeal cancers. This increases the rate of cover of oncogenic HPV types to approximately 90%. Read more about Gardasil 9.
Access to the following regional pathways is localised for each region and access is limited to health providers. If you do not know the login details, contact your DHB or PHO for more information:
(The Immunisation Advisory Centre, NZ, 2017)
Image credit: Pixabay
