CDC Adopts Advisory Panel's Recommendations To Give HPV Vaccine Gardasil To Females Ages 11 To 26, Merck Says

Main Category: Cervical Cancer / HPV Vaccine
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health;  Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 27 Mar 2007 - 3:00 PDT

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CDC has adopted the recommendations of its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to routinely give Merck's human papillomavirus vaccine Gardasil to girls and women ages 11 to 26, Merck announced on Thursday, Reuters reports (Reuters, 3/22). Among women not already infected with the vaccine HPV types, Gardasil in clinical trials has been shown to be 100% effective in preventing infection with strains 16 and 18, which together cause about 70% of cervical cancer cases, and about 99% effective in preventing HPV strains 6 and 11, which together with strains 16 and 18 cause about 90% of genital wart cases. Gardasil also protects against vaginal and vulvar cancers, two other gynecological cancers that are linked to HPV, according to a study presented in Atlanta at a meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. FDA in July 2006 approved Gardasil for sale and marketing to girls and women ages nine to 26. ACIP, which drafts recommendations and schedules for the administration of vaccines in the U.S., later that month voted unanimously to recommend that girls ages 11 and 12 receive the vaccine. The ACIP recommendation also allows for girls as young as nine to receive the vaccine and recommends that girls and women ages 13 to 26 receive Gardasil. Although the vaccination should be given before a girl begins sexual activity, sexually active girls and women still should receive Gardasil, the recommendation said. Two of the 15 ACIP members abstained from the vote because they have worked on Merck-funded studies. ACIP also recommended that Gardasil be covered by the federal Vaccines for Children Program, which provides no-cost immunizations to children covered by Medicaid, Alaska Native and American Indian children, and some uninsured and underinsured children. About 40% of U.S. children receive vaccines through the program (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 6/30/06). "The CDC's decision to adopt the vaccination recommendations put forth by the ACIP is an important milestone in cervical cancer prevention," Margaret McGlynn, president of Merck Vaccines, in a statement said, adding, "We look forward to continuing to work with the public health community, physicians, parents and others to support the implementation of this broad recommendation for Gardasil to help achieve our common public health goal of reducing the burden of cervical cancer and HPV-related diseases for as many females as possible, as quickly as possible" (Merck release, 3/22).

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