Victorian girls were provided with the first dose of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine earlier in 2007. The vaccine was introduced for girls joining secondary schools. The vaccination was made available under the National Immunisation Program.

As per the vaccination course, girls are required to take vaccination three times within a period of six months. The vaccination is effective in protecting girls from the four common types of HPV, which have been alleged for triggering cervical cancer.

All those who wish to take the benefit of free vaccination should get vaccinated before they turn 8. After achieving an age of 8, they would have to purchase the vaccination to steer clear of the deadly HPV.

In markets all over the region, the HPV vaccination is available for $150. Wyndham Councillor John Menegazzo has supported the HPV vaccination program, saying that the three injections are helpful in preventing various illnesses at later part of life.

He said, “According to the National HPV Vaccination Program Register, although 83 per cent of girls aged 12-13 have the first injection, only 73 per cent of them go on to have the second and third dose, meaning they are not fully protected”.

The HPV vaccine was made available for clinical use in 2006, since then the vaccine is being recommended to patients. However, the vaccination has been recently introduced to the young girls. It has been claimed that HPV vaccination is capable of preventing genital warts by 90% and cervical cancer by 70%.

It is estimated that in the US, about 10,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year. Out of them, more than 3,700 fail to survive. Therefore, it is essential for girls to get vaccinated at right time so that various dreadful forms of cancer like cervical cancer can be kept at bay.