Children who missed out on human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in Year 7 at school are urged to make time to get a free catch-up dose.
Data shows that in Victoria in 2025, 82.42% of girls and 79.99% of boys had received the vaccination by the age of 15.
“This means almost one-in-5 Victorian children missed out on their HPV vaccination, which is safe, effective and can protect them against HPV-related cancers and diseases in the future,” said Professor Rhonda Stuart, the Director of the South East Public Health Unit.
“If your child missed out on the HPV vaccine at school, it’s easy to catch up for free through a doctor, local immunisation service or at some pharmacies. You only need one dose to be protected.”
The HPV vaccine is provided for free to children aged 12 to 13 through school-based programs and is free for anyone aged 12 to 25, although you may need to pay for an appointment or consultation fee to have the vaccine.