Start with a free telehealth vax assessment with a Specialist GP. The GP goes through the HPV vaccine with you, confirms the right schedule, checks stock, and books your in-clinic vaccination time — the assessment is free.
In-clinic vaccination appointment $249 (vaccine included) at our East Melbourne clinic. Adults 26–45 usually need three doses over six months (0, 2 and 6 months); each appointment is $249.
Book a free telehealth vax assessment
The Specialist GP reviews the vaccine & checks stock
Come to our East Melbourne clinic to be vaccinated
The free telehealth assessment lets the Specialist GP confirm the right schedule for you, check current stock, and lock in your clinic appointment — all at no cost.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is an extremely common virus spread mainly through sexual contact — so common that most sexually active people are infected with it at some point. Usually the body clears it, but sometimes it persists and causes harm. HPV is responsible for almost all cervical cancers, as well as a significant proportion of anal, penile, vulvar, vaginal and throat (oropharyngeal) cancers, and it causes genital warts.
The HPV vaccine is one of the great public health successes of recent decades. By preventing infection with the HPV types that cause most of these cancers, it’s helping put Australia on track to eliminate cervical cancer — and it protects people of all genders, not just women.
The HPV vaccine (Gardasil 9)
The HPV vaccine used for HPV vaccination in Melbourne and across Australia is Gardasil 9. It protects against nine types of HPV, including the types responsible for most HPV-related cancers and the types that cause the majority of genital warts. It’s a safe, well-established vaccine that has been used for many years, and it’s most effective when given before exposure to HPV — which is why it’s routinely offered to adolescents. By preventing infection with high-risk HPV types, the vaccine helps protect against:
Cervical cancer — almost all cases are linked to HPV.
Anal, penile, vulvar and vaginal cancers — a substantial proportion are HPV-related.
Throat (oropharyngeal) cancers — increasingly linked to HPV.
Genital warts — caused by other HPV types the vaccine also covers.
Because these conditions affect people of all genders, the HPV vaccine is recommended for everyone eligible — not only those with a cervix.
Who Is Eligible for the Free HPV Vaccine?
In Victoria, the HPV vaccine is provided free through the National Immunisation Program (NIP) for adolescents and young adults aged 12 to 25. It’s routinely offered to students in Year 7 (around age 12–13) through the school immunisation program, which is when most people receive it. If it was missed at school, a free catch-up dose is available up to the age of 25 — so anyone under 26 who hasn’t been vaccinated can still get it free.
If you’re aged 12 to 25 and haven’t been vaccinated, you’re very likely eligible for a free HPV vaccine through the NIP — even if you missed the school program. A Specialist GP can confirm your eligibility as part of a free telehealth vax assessment (more on that below).
HPV vaccine for adults over 25
Free NIP funding for the HPV vaccine covers people up to their 26th birthday. Adults aged 26 and over can still choose to be vaccinated, though it’s worth an honest conversation with a clinician first, because by 26 many adults have already been exposed to HPV, which reduces — though doesn’t necessarily eliminate — the benefit. That said, some older adults still benefit, and men who have sex with men of any age are specifically recommended to be vaccinated if they haven’t been. A Specialist GP can help you weigh it up for your circumstances.
Boys and men, and if you’re already sexually active
The HPV vaccine is for everyone, not just girls and women. Boys are routinely offered it in Year 7 alongside girls, because HPV causes cancers and genital warts in men too — including anal, penile and throat cancers — and vaccinating boys and men also reduces transmission overall. Men who have sex with men are particularly recommended to be vaccinated, at any age. And if you’re already sexually active, the vaccine can still be worthwhile: you may not have been exposed to all nine HPV types it covers, so it can still protect you against the ones you haven’t encountered. It won’t treat or clear an existing HPV infection — it’s preventive — but it’s not necessarily “too late.”
Doses and Cervical Screening
Australia moved to a single-dose HPV vaccine schedule in 2023. For most healthy people aged 9 to 25, one dose now provides protection comparable to the older two-dose schedule, based on extensive international evidence. That means for the majority of eligible young people, a single dose completes their vaccination — you’re considered fully protected and don’t need further doses.
There are exceptions: people with significantly weakened immune systems need three doses regardless of age, and adults having the vaccine from age 26 follow a three-dose schedule. A Specialist GP will confirm the right number of doses for your situation.
You still need cervical screening. Being vaccinated against HPV does not replace cervical screening. The vaccine prevents most, but not all, HPV types that can cause cervical cancer, so anyone with a cervix should still have their regular Cervical Screening Test — including through convenient self-collection — even if they’ve had the HPV vaccine. Vaccination and screening work together to prevent cervical cancer.
Safety and Side Effects
The HPV vaccine has an excellent safety record, backed by many years of use and monitoring in millions of people worldwide. Side effects are usually mild and short-lived — soreness, redness or swelling where the injection was given, and sometimes a mild headache or feeling tired for a day or so. Serious side effects are very rare. Fainting can occur around the time of any vaccination, particularly in adolescents, which is why a short rest afterwards is standard. If you have any concerns, a Specialist GP will discuss them before you’re vaccinated.
How to Get the HPV Vaccine with Clinic365
With Clinic365, getting the HPV vaccine starts with a free telehealth vax assessment. Over a quick phone call, a Specialist GP talks you through the vaccine, confirms your eligibility and the right number of doses for you, and checks current vaccine stock — then books a convenient time for you to come into the Melbourne clinic to be vaccinated. The assessment is free, so you can make sure everything’s right and ready before you come in.
It’s a simple, unhurried way to get your questions answered and your vaccination organised, whether you’re a young person due for a catch-up dose or an adult weighing up whether the vaccine is worthwhile for you. To get started, book your free telehealth vax assessment in a few minutes. Care is confidential and judgement-free.
Frequently asked questions
The HPV vaccine used in Melbourne and Australia is Gardasil 9, which protects against nine types of human papillomavirus — including the types that cause most HPV-related cancers and most genital warts. It’s a safe, well-established vaccine, most effective when given before HPV exposure, which is why it’s routinely offered to adolescents.
It helps protect against cervical cancer (almost all cases are linked to HPV), a substantial proportion of anal, penile, vulvar and vaginal cancers, throat cancers increasingly linked to HPV, and genital warts. Because these affect people of all genders, the HPV vaccine is recommended for everyone eligible, not only those with a cervix.
In Victoria the HPV vaccine is free through the National Immunisation Program for people aged 12 to 25. It’s routinely offered in Year 7 through the school program, and a free catch-up is available up to age 25 for anyone who missed it. If you’re under 26 and unvaccinated, you’re very likely eligible — a Specialist GP can confirm this in a free vax assessment.
Australia moved to a single-dose schedule in 2023. For most healthy people aged 9 to 25, one dose now provides protection comparable to the older two-dose schedule, and completes vaccination. Exceptions: people who are significantly immunocompromised need three doses at any age, and adults vaccinated from age 26 follow a three-dose schedule.
Yes. Free NIP funding covers people up to their 26th birthday, and adults aged 26 and over can still choose to be vaccinated. Many adults have already been exposed to HPV by then, which reduces the benefit, so it’s worth discussing with a clinician. Some still benefit, and men who have sex with men are recommended to be vaccinated at any age.
Yes. The HPV vaccine is for everyone. Boys are routinely offered it in Year 7 alongside girls, because HPV causes cancers (anal, penile, throat) and genital warts in men too, and vaccinating men reduces transmission. Men who have sex with men are particularly recommended to be vaccinated at any age. A free catch-up is available for eligible young men up to 25.
It works best before any HPV exposure, but can still be worthwhile if you’re sexually active, since you may not have encountered all nine types it covers. It won’t treat or clear an existing HPV infection — it’s preventive — but it’s not necessarily too late. A clinician can advise whether it’s likely to benefit you based on your situation.
Yes. The vaccine prevents most, but not all, HPV types that can cause cervical cancer, so anyone with a cervix should still have their regular Cervical Screening Test — including convenient self-collection — even after being vaccinated. Vaccination and screening work together, and one doesn’t replace the other.
Yes. It has an excellent safety record from many years of use in millions of people. Side effects are usually mild and short-lived — soreness at the injection site, and sometimes a mild headache or tiredness for a day. Serious side effects are very rare. Fainting can occur around any vaccination, especially in adolescents, so a short rest afterwards is standard.
It starts with a free telehealth vax assessment. Over a quick phone call, a Specialist GP talks you through the vaccine, confirms your eligibility and the right number of doses, checks current stock, and books a convenient time for you to come into the Melbourne clinic to be vaccinated. The assessment is free, so everything’s confirmed before you come in.
People with significantly weakened immune systems need three doses of the HPV vaccine rather than a single dose, regardless of age, and these are funded under the NIP before age 26. If this applies to you or your child, talk to a clinician, who will confirm the right schedule and timing for your situation.
Under the current single-dose schedule, a healthy young person who has had one dose is generally considered fully vaccinated. If you had a partial course of an older HPV vaccine, or you’re unsure of your history, a clinician can check your immunisation record and advise whether any further dose is recommended for you.
