Thousands of teenage girls living in Australia's anti-vaccination hot spots are skipping the cervical cancer vaccine.
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A study has revealed the lowest rates of 15-year-old girls receiving the free HPV vaccine, Gardasil, are in areas known for their low childhood vaccination rates.
Two regions in New South Wales – the north coast and Blue Mountains – have the lowest percentage of girls who are fully vaccinated against the human papillomavirus in Australia. Both areas have been labelled "at risk" for contagious diseases.
Researchers said only 56 per cent of girls living in the Blue Mountains and 63 per cent of girls living on the NSW north coast had received all three courses of Gardasil in 2013.
The NSW north coast, which includes Byron Bay, also has a high rate of conscientious objectors to vaccinations.
Dr Julia Brotherton, medical director of the National HPV Vaccination Program Register, said both regions were known to be "tricky". She said it suggested views about childhood vaccination extended into adolescence and adulthood.
"I don't think you can underestimate the impact of communities that are vaccine hesitant," she said.
The report, conducted by the National Health Performance Authority, looked at girls who turned 15 in 2013 and found that HPV vaccine rates varied widely across communities.
The state with the highest rate of immunisation was Victoria, where 77 per cent of girls had had the full course of the vaccine. The worst-performing states were New South Wales, with 68 per cent, and Tasmania, with 65 per cent.
Gardasil, which is used in schools, protects against several strains of the sexually transmitted virus that can lead to cervical cancer and other diseases.
The vaccine was made available to girls aged 12 to 13 in 2007 as part of the National HPV Vaccination Program. It was extended to boys in 2013.
According to Cancer Council Australia, studies have shown that the vaccine has led to a 77 per cent reduction in HPV strains responsible for most cases of cervical cancer.
Dr Brotherton said some of the people not fully vaccinated included teens who received the first and second dose, but not the third.
"We need to make sure that people are getting the full benefit of the vaccine," she said. "If they are going to get one dose they really need to get the full course."
"It's really logistical barriers. If they miss that day of school, it's really hard to get them re-vaccinated," she said.
