About the data
Data were sourced from the National HPV Vaccination Program Register (HPV Register). The data reported are for girls and boys aged 15 who had received three doses of HPV vaccine by 30 June 2015. HPV immunisation status is assessed at age 15 to allow for completion of the immunisation schedule by all eligible recipients. Reporting by this age group accommodates the varying ages of vaccination around Australia (usually in the first year of high school, around ages 12–13).
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Estimated Resident Population (ERP) for females and males aged 13 at 30 June 2013 was used for the denominator, as this reflects the eligible population at the time most vaccinations were administered. Immunisation rates were mapped to the area in which people lived rather than the area where services were provided, using postcode information provided to the HPV Register at the time of their final vaccination.
The immunisation rates presented here are not comparable with those produced by the HPV Register due to methodological differences. The HPV Register reports current coverage for each cohort at the date of data extraction. Therefore, the number fully immunised may vary in reports prepared by the HPV Register. A further difference is the HPV Register’s use of ABS ERP at age 15, which differs to the method used here.
HPV immunisation rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are unable to be reported separately due to limitations of available data. The AIHW will work with stakeholders to consider ways to address this issue in the future.
For more information refer to the Technical note.
What is a Primary Health Network?
Primary Health Networks (PHNs) are local organisations that connect health services across a specific geographic area, with the boundaries defined by the Australian Government Department of Health.
Thirty-one PHNs commenced operations on 1 July 2015, replacing Medicare Locals. They have the key objectives of increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of medical services for patients, particularly those at risk of poor health outcomes, and improving coordination of care to ensure patients receive the right care in the right place at the right time.
In this report, a PHN area refers to the population that lives in the geographic area covered by a particular PHN. The results in this report relate to the period before PHNs were established; therefore, the findings do not reflect the performance of PHNs.