In 2007, Cancer Council Australia, with co-sponsorship from the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, convened a national “roundtable” discussion on human papillomavirus (HPV) immunisation and its impact on the National Cervical Screening Program.
HPV immunisation has the potential to prevent strains of HPV that cause 70% of cervical cancers. The immunisation program must be introduced in a way that maximises its potential and complements Australia’s highly successful cervical screening program to further reduce cancer burden and achieve optimal cost benefits.
Following expert discussion around these issues, “roundtable” participants made five “principle” recommendations:
1. Review the National Cervical Screening Program;
2. ‘Central’ overseeing to monitor the HPV vaccine’s impact on the National Cervical Screening Program;
3. Develop an Indigenous ‘package’ for screening and vaccination;
4. Undertake post-implementation evaluation of the National HPV Vaccination Program; and
5. Address information systems issues.
This report outlines the “roundtable” recommendations and summarises the discussion and presentations.
Its publication coincides with the subsequent development of the HPV immunisation chapter of Cancer Council Australia’s National Cancer Prevention Policy.