A high number of Pacific girls and young women have chosen to have the new HPV immunisation – offered in participating New Zealand schools for the first time last year.
The immunisation helps prevent cervical cancer by protecting young women now from HPV infection and the risk of developing cervical cancer later in life.
Ministry of Health Chief Advisor for Pacific Health, Dr Api Talemaitoga, says Pacific women are more likely than some other groups in New Zealand to develop cervical cancer, so he is very pleased at the support the HPV programme is receiving from the Pacific community.
“The programme is about helping to prevent cervical cancer in our future generation of Pacific women. This year, about 71 percent of eligible Pacific girls and young women chose to have the vaccine.
“I encourage girls and young women to discuss the immunisation with their families so they can make an informed choice.”
He says the immunisation could save the lives of many Pacific women in the future.
“More than 99 percent of cervical cancer is linked to HPV infection, and this vaccine protects against 70 percent of them. Over time, HPV immunisation is expected to halve the rates of cervical cancer in New Zealand.”
Dr Talemaitoga stresses that girls who are immunised will still need to have regular cervical smears when they are older.
“HPV immunisation and cervical screening work together to greatly reduce the risk of cervical cancer. The vaccine doesn't protect against all HPV types that can cause cervical cancer so once women are sexually active they still need to have a smear test every three years between the ages of 20 and 70.”
He says studies indicate the HPV vaccine will offer long-lasting protection.
“On-going clinical studies show that after five years, protection against the HPV virus remains high and suggest that protection will last much longer – possibly for life.”
The HPV immunisation programme will be back in 2010. Around 75,000 girls will be offered the programme for the first time through participating schools next year.
HPV immunisation is free for girls and young women born on or after 1 January 1990. Young women born in 1990 or 1991 have until 31 December 2011 and girls born from 1992 have until their 20th birthday to start the programme.
For more information about the HPV programme: www.cervicalcancervaccine.govt.nz or 0800 IMMUNE (0800 466 863).