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Australia has made remarkable progress in the fight against human papillomavirus (HPV), achieving a 90% reduction in HPV prevalence since the national vaccine program began in 2007.
The increased HPV vaccination coverage has contributed to a decline in HPV-related cancers – including cervical cancer – among younger people. There was not a single documented case of cervical cancer among women under 25 across Australia in 2021. Data suggests that it’s the first time this has occurred since 1982.
Other HPV non-cancer endpoints such as genital warts and juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (JoRRP) have also dramatically declined since the introduction of the HPV vaccine.
This world-leading achievement highlights the effectiveness of widespread immunisation in protecting people from HPV-related diseases.
However, a recent report from the Kirby Institute, funded by the Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC), has raised concerns about declining vaccination rates and unequal access to the vaccine.
The HPV surveillance and monitoring report analysed HPV vaccination, prevalence, and trends to the end of 2024.
The report revealed that vaccination coverage in adolescents aged 15 years fell from a peak of 85.7% in 2020 to 79.5% in 2024.
Other important findings from the report included:
- People who live in disadvantaged areas or very remote areas were least likely to get tested for HPV.
- HPV vaccination coverage in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adolescents and adolescents in remote communities continues to face persistent and increasing barriers, placing them at higher risk for poor health outcomes.
- Post-COVID declines are likely driven by school absenteeism, challenges in program delivery, staffing constraints, and potential increases in vaccine hesitancy.
- Cancer-causing HPV is being detected at higher rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander screening participants (12.1% compared to 7.3% in the non-Indigenous population), underscoring the importance of culturally safe prevention, vaccination and screening pathways.
- Genital warts diagnoses have decreased significantly since the introduction of the HPV vaccine. In females aged 21 to 24, the diagnosis rate fell from 13.8% in 2006 to 0.7% in 2024.
HPV and prevention
HPV is a common sexually transmissible infection that can spread quickly and cause genital warts and various cancers – including cervical cancer, anal cancer, other anogenital cancers and some head and neck cancers.
People with HPV often have no symptoms, making it difficult to detect and control.
While practising safe sex can help reduce the risk, condoms offer only partial protection against the virus.
The HPV vaccine remains the strongest safeguard against HPV. It is available for free to young people aged 12 and 13 through school-based programs, and catch-up vaccines are provided at no cost up to the age of 26 for those who were missed.
Ensuring high vaccination coverage is essential to protect every community and prevent future cases of HPV-related cancers and diseases.
We urge everyone to help close the gap. Start conversations with your family and friends, and speak to your health professional about the HPV vaccine.
By working together, we can make sure everyone is protected from HPV and HPV-related diseases.
Learn more
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