The UK Department of Health is to authorize a nationwide vaccination for girls to protect from HPV (human papillomavirus), starting at the age of 9, according to an article in today’s Scotland on Sunday. Most of the UK’s medical community support this move.
Gardasil, the vaccine, is only effective in protecting a woman/girl from developing cervical cancer if it is administered before she ever becomes infected with HPV. Hence, it is important to receive the vaccine before a girl becomes sexually active. Gardasil protects women from becoming infected with a type of HPV that is responsible for 70% of cervical cancers.
Some countries, such as the USA, has seen some serious resistance to a nationwide vaccination programme for very young girls. Some people are concerned that girls could become sexually active at a younger age. In the UK it was found that most parents support the vaccination programme, according to Scotland on Sunday.
An EMEA (The European Medicines Agency) expert committee has recommended that Gardasil be granted a full licence. When approved, it will be legally administered in the European Union to women/girls from 9-26 years of age. Final approval is expected by October, 2006.
Some scientists say the vaccine should also be given to males, regardless of individual risk factors. Dr. Bradley Monk, University of California at Irvine, said we need to move toward a paradigm where this is a universal vaccine. He says males can pass the infection on to women, who then go on to develop cancer of the cervix.
About 300,000 women die each year globally from cancer of the cervix. This vaccine could save the lives of 70% of them, or 210,000 women each year.
In June, 2006, Gardaril was approved as a vaccine for girls and women by the US FDA. Gardasil also protects from most types of genital warts.
HPV is a sexually transmitted infection.
— Scotland on Sunday
— http://www.gardasil.com
Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today