HPV Vaccine

About HPV Vaccine

The human papillomavirus HPV vaccine prevents cervical cancer and other HPV related cancers. The first vaccine, Gardasil, was developed by Merck and licensed in 2006. It protects against four HPV types. A nine valent version, Gardasil 9, was licensed in 2014. Ian Frazer and Jian Zhou at the University of Queensland developed the underlying technology using virus like particles. National programmes typically target young adolescents, before exposure to the virus, with eligibility set by national health authorities. HPV vaccination has substantially reduced cervical precancerous lesions in vaccinated populations. Australia aims to eliminate cervical cancer through vaccination and screening by 2035. Vaccine uptake has been limited in some countries by concerns about sexual activity and cost. The WHO aims to eliminate cervical cancer globally through vaccination.