Australia eyes cervical-cancer eradication a decade after Gardasil debut

Twenty years after Australia rolled out Gardasil, the first vaccine aimed at cervical cancer, the country is on track to eradicate the disease within the next ten years, according to Griffith University infectious-disease professor Nigel McMillan. Developed at the University of Queensland by Ian Frazer and the late Jian Zhou, the vaccine protects against HPV strains responsible for most cervical, genital-wart, throat, anal and other cancers.

While Australia has administered millions of doses and the vaccine has been free for girls since 2007 and for boys since 2013, recent Australian Immunisation Register data show coverage falling from 86.6% to 78.7% for girls and from 84.9% to 75.6% for boys. Public-health expert Julia Brotherton warned that dropping below 80% is concerning, especially as the jab remains safe and cost-free. The effort aligns with the World Health Organization’s plan to prevent 62 million deaths by 2120, and Gavi projects millions of lives saved in low- and middle-income countries. Political backing after an initial funding dispute in 2006 helped secure full government financing of the program.