The National HPV Vaccination Program is launching an interactive animation on HITnet kiosks across Australia, to provide information on the FREE Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination offered to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. These FREE vaccinations are available through Aboriginal Health Services, schools, hospitals, and youth drop in centres.
Multi ARIA and Deadly Award winner Troy Cassar-Daley is an ambassador for the National HPV Vaccination Program. He makes a cameo appearance in the HITnet animation, urging young Indigenous people to get their HPV vaccination.
Troy Cassar-Daley makes a cameo appearance on the animation.
The interactive animation aims to raise awareness of HPV and the ongoing school based vaccination program for young males and females from 12-13 years of age, and the catch up program for 14-15 year olds which runs until the end of 2014. It will be available in HITnet kiosks from July 2014.
HITnet operates a series of touch screen kiosks in locations across Australia, enabling audiences to interact with information in a highly visual and engaging format. The HPV module on HITnet, HPV and me – My health, my future, follows the story of two 13 year olds, Wes and Bianca, as they find out more about HPV and its impacts, and decide, with their parents’ consent, to be vaccinated. Parent or guardian consent is necessary before young people can get the vaccination.
HPV is a common virus that affects males and females. It can cause the development of certain HPV-related cancers and disease in both males and females. The vaccine is given by qualified immunisation providers. For full protection against HPV-related cancers and disease, three doses of the HPV vaccine are needed over six months. The vaccine has been tested to make sure it’s safe for young males and females and more than 7 million doses have been distributed in Australia to date.
HPV and me – My health, my future is an engaging and interactive online tool for teenagers and parents who want to know more about the HPV vaccination, but also a good lesson on the importance of looking after your health and setting goals for the future.
Parents and guardians can find more information on the HPV vaccination website australia.gov.au/hpv where they can also find specific resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including information in 20 Indigenous languages, as well as English. They can also freecall 1800 671 811 (charges may apply for calls from mobiles).
Background:
The National HPV Vaccination Program is a free school-based program to protect young men and women against HPV-related cancers and disease. Community health clinics will deliver vaccinations in some remote areas. If a child’s education is not school-based (such as for those undertaking online studies), parents and guardians can contact the local health department for advice on where to get the vaccination.
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