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Monitoring the control of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and related diseases in Australia: towards a national HPV surveillance strategy

Julia M. L. Brotherton A B H , John M. Kaldor C and Suzanne M. Garland D E F G
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Victorian Cytology Service, PO Box 310, East Melbourne, Vic. 8002, Australia.

B National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.

C National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, University of New South Wales, NSW 2010, Australia.

D Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne, Vic 3052, Australia.

E Department of Clinical Microbiology, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, Vic. 3052, Australia.

F Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic. 3053, Australia.

G Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic. 3052, Australia.

H Corresponding author. Email: jbrother@vcs.org.au

Sexual Health 7(3) 310-319 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH09137
Submitted: 2 December 2009  Accepted: 13 April 2010   Published: 19 August 2010

Abstract

This paper describes a possible multifaceted approach to human papillomavirus (HPV) related surveillance in Australia following implementation of a national HPV vaccination program. We describe eight main components: monitoring of vaccine coverage, vaccine safety, type-specific HPV infection surveillance, cervical cytology (Pap screening) coverage and screen detected lesion prevalence, cervical cancer incidence and mortality, genital wart incidence, incidence of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, and knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about HPV and HPV vaccination. Australia is well placed to monitor the impact of its HPV vaccination program as well as to measure vaccine effectiveness with existing HPV vaccines, cervical screening and cancer registries.

Additional keywords: cervical cancer, genital warts, Pap smears, recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, vaccination, vaccine safety.


Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the intellectual contribution to the ideas contained in this paper made by the following individuals, with whom we have discussed many of the issues in this paper: Dr Rosemary Lester, Dr Shelley Deeks, Dr Bronwen Harvey, Dr Vicki Krause, Professor Peter McIntyre, Associate Professor Marion Saville, Dr Christine Selvey and Dr Rosalind Webby.


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