Thu, 10/04/2018 | News

AusVaxSafety reports world-first active vaccine safety data for new HPV vaccine

Australia’s active vaccine safety surveillance system collects over 8,000 SMS-based survey responses from parents reporting Gardasil9®is safe

Data from AusVaxSafety confirm the safety of new human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine Gardasil9® in Australian adolescents. Over 8,000 parents of vaccinated 11–14 year olds have provided feedback to an SMS-based survey of safety after the jab. Gardasil9® vaccine was added to the National Immunisation Program this year for adolescent males and females and prevents HPV-related cancers, such as cervical, and head and neck cancer.

Using automated Smartvax software, which sends an SMS survey to parents 3 days after vaccination to ask about any adverse events, the AusVaxSafety program has been monitoring and reporting to the Australian Government Department of Health on Gardasil9® since February 2018. No vaccine safety concerns have been identified to date; the most common and expected findings have been reports of injection site reactions in 3.8% of reports.

This world-first active vaccine safety data for the new HPV vaccine will be showcased at the 32nd International Papillomavirus Conference in Sydney this week.

Professor, Discipline of Child & Adolescent Health, University of Sydney and the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) Director, Kristine Macartney, commented, “We are very excited to add to the global body of research regarding the safety of Gardasil9®, and hope this information will support the wider uptake of this life-saving vaccine.”

HPV is a common virus that can lead to different types of cancer, including cancer of the cervix, head and neck and other anogenital areas. The new vaccine protects against 9 different types of HPV (5 more types than the previous vaccine) and is recommended for routine vaccination at around 12–13 years of age. The vaccine is delivered mainly through free, school-based immunisation programs, with some doses also given by GPs. AusVaxSafety monitoring of Gardasil9 vaccine is been undertaken in schools and GPs across Australia.

More HPV vaccine safety surveillance results, as well as results for other vaccines such as those protecting against whooping cough, shingles and influenza, are available on the AusVaxSafety website. In 2018, AusVaxSafety collected data confirming the safety of influenza vaccines in more than 167,000 children and adults surveyed.

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