The vaccine works by immunising girls against certain strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV) that are known to cause 7 out of 10 of cervical cancers. The vaccine will also prevent 9 out of 10 cases of genital warts.

Starting in April, the cervical cancer vaccine will be given to girls, free of charge, at their parents. In some states, the vaccination program may be staggered, so that some schoolgirls are vaccinated in 2007 and the rest in 2008. The vaccine is administered by injection in three doses over a period of six months.

If you want your daughter to participate in the vaccination program, you will need to give your consent. Your daughter will bring a parental consent form home from school for you to sign.

Because different states and territories have different school systems, vaccination timetables will vary. In the next two years, all girls currently in secondary school will be able to get the vaccination. The cervical cancer vaccine will also become part of the regular, ongoing immunisation program for 12 to 13 year olds. Contact your daughter’s school for more information about when she will receive the vaccine.

From July, if your daughter is not at school but is aged under 27, she can still get the vaccine for free from her local GP or public immunisation provider.

Twelve may seem young to begin vaccinating girls against an infection that is contracted through sexual contact, but that’s the point – to immunise them long before they are exposed to any risk. HPV is very common – 4 out of 5 people will have it at some time in their lives. Usually the body clears the virus naturally, but sometimes the virus can lead to cervical cancer.

Boys can also be infected with HPV. However, this program is only available for girls because research into the effectiveness of the vaccine in preventing HPV infection and related diseases in men has not been completed.

For more information, visit the Government Cervical Cancer website: www.australia.gov.au/cervicalcancer