Stakeholder toolkit: Promote HPV vaccination

Background

The HPV vaccine protects against nine types of HPV that cause most cervical cancers, other HPV related cancers and genital warts.

The vaccine is free and recommended for Australians of all genders aged 12 to 25 through the National Immunisation Program and is usually given to children aged 12 to 13 through the Secondary School Immunisation Program.

However, many Victorians have missed out on the HPV vaccine putting them at higher risk of developing cervical cancer, other HPV-related cancers and genital warts. In fact, one in seven 15-year-olds have missed out on getting the HPV vaccine in school, increasing their risk of these diseases in the future. ¹

People aged 25 and under who have missed out on the HPV vaccine are encouraged to catch up for free at their doctor, local council immunisation service or some pharmacies.

How you can help

Share the campaign messages in this toolkit through your networks and help increase HPV vaccination rates to save lives. We really appreciate your support.

You’ll find content in this toolkit for:

• young people aged 25 and under who have missed out on the vaccine
• parents and carers whose children have missed out on the vaccine.

Key messages

• The HPV vaccine protects against nine types of HPV that cause most cervical cancers, other HPV related cancers and almost all cases of genital warts.
• HPV stands for human papillomavirus. It is a common sexually transmitted infection that spreads through genital skin to skin contact between people of any gender.
• HPV usually causes no symptoms and goes away by itself however; it can sometimes cause serious diseases including cancer.
• In Australia, the HPV vaccine is free and recommended for people aged 12 to 25, under the National Immunisation Program.
• Australians aged 25 and under who missed out on the HPV vaccine at school, can catch up for free through their doctor, local council immunisation service or at some pharmacies.
• Australians who are 26 or older or not eligible for Medicare, may need to pay for the vaccine.
• The HPV vaccine is safe, effective and can protect you against HPV-related cancers and diseases in the future.
• Visit hpvvaccine.org.au for more information about HPV and the HPV vaccine.

Content for young people 25 and under

Newsletter/website article

Headline: Free catch-up HPV vaccination available for young Australians

Did you miss out on getting the HPV vaccine in school?

HPV or human papillomavirus is a very common sexually transmitted virus that affects all genders and can sometimes cause serious cause serious diseases including cancer.

This life-saving vaccine protects against nine types of HPV that cause almost all cases of cervical cancer, other HPV-related cancers and genital warts.

If you are 25 and under and haven’t had the HPV vaccine, you can still catch up for free through your doctor, local council or some pharmacies. Book in your dose today.

Find out more about the HPV vaccine and how to catch up at: hpvvaccine.org.au/catchup

Social media posts

Download the content to use in your social media posts and make sure you tag us at @cancervic.

Sample social media posts

• Option 1: Did you miss out on the HPV vaccine? Australians aged 25 and under can catch up for free at their doctor, local council immunisation service or some pharmacies. Protect yourself against HPV-related cancers and diseases in the future. Find out more: hpvvaccine.org.au/catchup
• Option 2: The HPV vaccine is safe, effective and protects against cervical cancer, other HPV-related cancers and genital warts. If you’re 25 and under and missed out on the vaccine, you can still catch up for free. Speak to your doctor, local council immunisation service or some pharmacies to catch up. For more information, visit: hpvvaccine.org.au/catchup

Content for parents and carers

Newsletter/website article

Headline: Get up to date on HPV vaccination

Did your child miss out on the HPV vaccine at school?

The HPV vaccine is provided for free to children aged 12 to 13 through school-based programs and protects against nine types of HPV which cause most cervical cancers, other HPV-related cancers and genital warts.

It’s important for Australians aged 25 and under who have missed the vaccine in school to catch up as soon as possible. You can book in for a free catch up through your doctor, local council immunisation provider and some pharmacies.

Find out more about the HPV vaccine and how to catch up at hpvvaccine.org.au

Social media posts

Download these images to use in your social media posts and make sure you tag us at @cancervic

• Option 1: Has your child missed out on their HPV vaccine? Australians aged 12 to 25 can catch up for free through their doctor, local council immunisation service or some pharmacies. Find out more on the @cancervic website: hpvvaccine.org.au
• Option 2: The HPV vaccine is safe, effective and protects against cervical cancer, other HPV-related cancers and genital warts. If your child missed getting their HPV vaccine in school, it’s important they catch up as soon as possible. Book in to catch up for free through your doctor, local council or some pharmacies. Find out more on the @cancervic website: hpvvaccine.org.au

HPV vaccination for teenagers video

Acknowledgement

This work is being delivered under Cancer Council Victoria’s Cervical Cancer Elimination Strategy, supported by Freemasons Foundation Victoria.

References

1. Hull B, Hendry A, Dey A, Brotherton J, Macartney K, Beard F. (2023). Annual Immunisation Coverage Report 2022. National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance. Australia. Available at: ncirs.org.au/reports