CSL Limited, which distributes Merck's human papillomavirus vaccine Gardasil in Australia, announced that 77% to 90% of girls in Australian secondary schools have received the vaccine, Melbourne Herald Sun reports (Collier, Melbourne Herald Sun, 8/17). Gardasil in clinical trials has been shown to be 100% effective in preventing infection with HPV strains 16 and 18, which together cause about 70% of cervical cancer cases, and about 99% effective in preventing HPV strains 6 and 11, which together with HPV strains 16 and 18 cause about 90% of genital wart cases, among women not already infected with these strains (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 7/18).

Australian Prime Minister John Howard in November 2006 announced that the government will provide about $342 million for a program that will offer Gardasil at no cost to girls and women ages 12 to 26 living in the country. Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration in June 2006 approved Gardasil for girls and women ages nine to 26 and boys ages nine to 15 (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 11/30/06). According to the Herald Sun, CSL has sold 1.7 million doses of the vaccine in Australia since August 2006.

Thousands of parents have opted against having their daughters participate in the vaccination program. Religious beliefs, mistrust of the vaccine's safety and fear of promoting promiscuity are among the reasons thousands of parents have declined permission, the Herald Sun reports. CSL spokesperson Rachel David has urged parents who have declined permission to reconsider, adding that the vaccine is still available at no cost through local physicians (Melbourne Herald Sun, 8/17).

Women ages 18 to 26 will be able to receive the vaccination at no cost from their general practitioners for two years beginning in the middle of 2007. The National Immunisation Program plans to target female students ages 12 and 13 to receive Gardasil after a two-year "catch-up period" of vaccinating women as old as 26. About 270 women in Australia die annually from cervical cancer, and about 800 are diagnosed with the disease annually (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 11/30/06).

Government Decides Not To Fund Cervarix Vaccinations
In related news, the Australian government recently decided not to provide funding for GlaxoSmithKline's experimental HPV vaccine Cervarix after questions were raised about its efficacy in blocking genital warts, the Australian Associated Press reports (Australian Associated Press, 8/18).

Cervarix has been shown to be 100% effective in preventing infection with HPV strains 16 and 18, which together cause about 70% of cervical cancer cases. Researchers in a 2006 study published in the online edition of the Lancet also found that Cervarix prevented infection with HPV strains 31 and 45, which together with strains 16 and 18, cause more than 80% of cervical cancer cases.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration in June approved the vaccine for girls and women ages 10 to 45 (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 8/15). According to the Australian Associated Press, Cervarix will cost about 450 Australian dollars, or about $362, for the three-shot series (Australian Associated Press, 8/18).