SIGNIFICANT improvements have been made across Australia in immunising girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV), according to a new report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
The school-based National HPV Vaccination Program for girls began in 2007, and was extended to include boys in 2013.
"HPV... affects about four out of five people at some point in their lives," said AIHW spokesperson Michael Frost.
The vaccine can prevent a range of cancers, including cervical cancer, and other conditions such as genital warts, Frost explained.
Rates have improved from 72% in 2012-13 to about 79% in 2014-15, with Murrumbidgee in NSW having the highest coverage at 86% while lowest rates are in Tasmania (67%), Country SA (69%) and the Gold Coast (Qld) (70%).
This report is the first to include local-level HPV immunisation rates for boys. It shows that nationally, more than two-thirds (about 67%) of boys aged 15 were fully immunised in 2014-15, while rates across PHN areas ranged from about 57% to 78%.
See myhealthycommunities.gov.au.
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