“A key challenge everywhere is to have governments recognise Human Papilloma Virus vaccination as an investment. The costs associated with vaccination invariably return a net benefit,” writes columnist MICHAEL MOORE.

In 2021 there was not a single case of cervical cancer diagnosed in a woman under 25 years of age in Australia. 

This is an amazing success story demonstrating the efficacy of vaccination as a key tool in preventive health.

The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) has been responsible for causing cervical cancer along with penile and throat cancer. 

There is no reason for anyone to have to suffer from these cancers in the future. The development of the vaccine was the work of former Australian of the Year, Professor Ian Frazer. What a contribution!

In 2007 Tony Abbott, who was then health minister in the Howard government, funded school-based HPV vaccination across Australia. There was considerable resistance from some schools that focused on sexual transmission rather than on cancer.

Although a conservative Catholic, Mr Abbott pushed on with the result that we see today.

That cohort of girls in 2007 and the following years are now the ones that have been successfully protected from this virus and from the cancer that is regularly the outcome of the virus.

However, we now realise that it is not just young girls that need to be vaccinated. By vaccinating boys as well as girls, the HPV virus stops circulating in the community. The two most successful countries in the world have adopted this approach. 

Sweden and Australia are predicting the end of endemic cervical cancer and other related cancers by 2035. In just 10 years. What an amazing achievement.

Sweden’s strategy to eliminate cervical cancer by 2027, according to the country’s Cancer Council, encompasses HPV vaccinations for school-aged children, free cervical screenings for women aged 23-70, and referral for treatment for those testing positive. A catch-up program was launched in 2021, targeting girls born 1994-1999 to bridge the vaccination gap.

A similar approach has been adopted in Australia.

However, these successes have not been adopted worldwide. Low and middle-income countries have kept the distribution of vaccines to prioritising girls and young women when there is a limited budget, which is consistent with the approach taken by the World Health Organization

Gavi, an international organisation created in 2000 to improve access to new and underused vaccines for children living in the world’s poorest countries, made a promise to girls around the world that they would support widespread vaccination by the end of 2025. 

On November 21 they reported having met their promised target of vaccinating 86 million girls – just ahead of schedule.

A key challenge everywhere is to have governments recognise HPV vaccination as an investment. The costs associated with vaccination invariably return a net benefit.

As Gavi reported: “An estimated 1 million lives will be saved, $US2.3 billion [$A3.5 billion] in economic benefits could be realised”. 

Most importantly, they added, “and millions of girls across the world will face a future free from the suffering and anguish caused by cervical cancer”.

The 2025 Cervical Cancer Elimination Progress Report, by members of the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Cervical Cancer Control, suggests there is more to be done to accelerate this amazing achievement, such as systematic notifications for those that missed out on vaccination at school, addressing financial barriers and providing accurate and tailored information to all priority populations.

Internationally, the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) believes, “HPV programs should integrate both vaccination and screening as complementary tools, adopting the most effective strategies that maximise not only the return on investment but also community health and patients’ quality of life”.

The WFPHA has been working with a wide range of international NGOs on a call to action that includes 12 key elements. They include: “successful adult vaccination must focus on convenience and accessibility, including the use of new vaccination access points (eg, pharmacies, workplaces, community hubs)”. 

Additionally, “education and advocacy initiatives for healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists and dentists should be systematically implemented to strengthen their awareness and support for HPV vaccination in adults”.

The call to action concludes by pointing out “preventive health, including immunisation and screening, should not be viewed as a cost, but as a strategic investment. It strengthens the resilience of health systems, societies, and economies, and serves as a cornerstone of global health security”.

Michael Moore is a former independent ACT minister for health. He has been a political columnist with “CityNews” since 2006. He is the chair of the International Taskforce on Immunization Policy for the WFPHA.