HPV vaccine for students in Year X
Dear parent/guardian,
I am writing to advise you that boys and girls in Year X can have the HPV vaccine free of charge in school as part of the National HPV Vaccination Program.
A consent form is enclosed with this letter: if you would like your child to have the vaccine in school please sign it and return it to us promptly.
If you do not want your child to receive the vaccine, please indicate this on the consent form and return it to school, so this can be recorded.
The vaccine is given in twodoses, six to 12 months apart. School vaccination days this year will be:
Insert date 1
Insert date 2
This is the only time your child will be able to receive the vaccine conveniently through school. If your child misses a dose at school, he or she will be able to ‘catch up’ that dose for free through a GP or local immunisation provider.
Two doses are available for free for people aged under the age of 19. If your child receives their first dose after the age of 15, or if they do not receive the injections at least six months apart, they will require three doses of the vaccine. You will need to pay for the third dose.
Ideally, the three doses should be given at 0, 2 and 6 months – that is, the second dose should be given two months after the first, and the third dose four months after the second.
- The vaccine protects against certain types of genital human papillomavirus (HPV) that affect both men and women.
- HPV is a very common sexually transmitted infection which usually causes no symptoms and goes away by itself, but can sometimes cause serious illnesses.
- Almost all cases of genital warts and cervical cancer are due to HPV.
- The vaccine provides protection from nine HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, 58 and protection is expected to be long-lasting.
- The vaccine helps prevent90% of cervical cancers, most of the genitalcancers in men caused by HPV infection and 90% of genital warts in men and women.
- The vaccine works best if it is given before any sexual contact occurs.
An information sheet about HPV and the vaccination program is enclosed, along with some common myths and facts about the vaccine. Afactsheet has also been provided to your child.
If you need more information, visit hpvvaccine.org.au or phone the local state or territory immunisation unit on [insert phone number]. You can also call the National Immunisation Hotline on 1800 671 811 or the Cancer Council on 13 11 20.
Yours sincerely,