The Federal Government has approved the free delivery of an updated vaccine.

Gardasil 9 – which protects against several deadly cancers, including almost all cervical cancers - will be given to 12- and 13-year-olds from 2018. 

The vaccine offers improved protection against nine strains of human papilloma virus, instead of the current four.

Advocates say it could prevent almost 90 per cent of cervical cancers, as well as some forms of throat cancer and anal cancer.

“The new vaccine will make sure that even more people are protected against cancer,” vaccine creator Professor Ian Frazer said.

“More importantly, those women who have screening for cervical cancer are much less likely to have an abnormal test they’ll need treatment for.

“There’s a real prospect that over time, the viruses that cause the cancer will disappear from the community and the cancer will go too.”