The national Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program began in 2007 and is an Australian, State and Territory Government initiative. The Program provides the HPV vaccine free of charge to eligible children to protect against the most common types of HPV infection that can lead to HPV-related cancer and disease. The vaccine is provided free of charge for:
- 12- and 13-year-old males and females through schools on an ongoing basis
Vaccination involves three injections, usually given over a period of 6 months.
The
No Jab, No Pay policy commenced on 1 January 2016. For parents to continue to receive family assistance payments (Child Care Benefit, Child Care Rebate and Family Tax Benefit Part A Supplement), children and young individuals up to the age of 20 years must be fully immunised, be on a catch-up schedule, or have an approved medical exemption.
The HPV vaccine is not included in the list of immunisations that are required to be eligible to receive family assistance payments and is therefore not affected by the No Jab, No Pay policy. Information about immunisation and family assistance payments can be found on the Department of Human Service website at:
www.humanservices.gov.au/immunisation. Information regarding the immunisation status of your child can also be obtained from the Department of Human Services through the Australian Immunisation Register.