Abstract
The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is woefully under-used in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ). This is despite its excellent safety profile and evidence that it prevents cancer. Added to the NZ immunisation schedule in 2008, coverage has yet to reach the original 75% target. The World Health Organization now recommends a 1-dose vaccine schedule for 9-20-year-olds. Forty countries, including Australia and UK now follow this advice. NZ continues to follow the manufacturer datasheet (2-dose schedule), despite the science. Thus we waste scarce resources (vaccinator and vaccine) and give an extra injection of minimal, if any, value to our youth. This non-evidence-based obstacle needs to be removed. A single dose to prevent cancer helps promote HPV vaccine. We should aim for at least 90% coverage and eliminate HPV-related cancers from NZ. In this Briefing, we describe a missed opportunity to change the School Year 8 HPV immunisation programme from a 2-dose to a 1-dose schedule. A barrier is the manufacturer datasheet that specifies a 2-dose schedule. However, health authorities can address this barrier. A single dose helps coverage. With increased promotion we can achieve at least 90% coverage and eliminate cervical cancer and other cancers caused by HPV vaccine-types.