The cervical cancer vaccine works by protecting against the human papillomavirus (HPV) strains that account for up to 80 percent of cervical cancer cases and 90 percent of genital warts.

HPV is very common, with 4 out of 5 people developing the virus at some point in their lifetime. Affecting men and women, the virus lives on the skin and can be spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact. This means women can still get HPV even if they practice safe sex or only ever have one sexual partner. Usually the body clears the virus by itself, but in some cases can develop into cervical abnormalities or cancer.

All women will benefit from vaccination, however if you are under 27, you can get your free vaccination under the HPV Vaccination Program. You can get your free vaccine at your GP or community immunisation clinic and have until 2009 to complete your immunisation program.

While the vaccine doesn’t prevent all cervical abnormalities and cervical cancers, its still very important for all women to keep up to date with regular Pap smears. You should have a Pap smear every two years from the age of 18, or two years after having sex, whichever is later.

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