27028 (2026). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

27028 (2026). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: Why was the HPV measure removed rather than retained?

Hon Simeon Brown: I am advised that the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) measure ‘Increase the percentage of girls and boys between 9 and 26 years who have completed their HPV immunisation course as per schedule and recorded on the Aotearoa Immunisation Register as fully immunised’ was replaced with two new measures: 75% of people aged 15 years fully immunised for HPV and 75% of people aged 15 years vaccinated with at least 1 dose of HPV vaccine. I am further advised that this was done to better align with the global reporting measures for HPV immunisation and the ages at which the vaccine is routinely offered in New Zealand. I am also advised that the 9-26 years measure relates to funded vaccine eligibility criteria, which has changed over time, and includes multiple age and condition dependent dosing schedules. This complexity reduced the accuracy and consistency of coverage calculations.