20/06/2007

Panel approves cervical cancer jab

Girls aged 12 and 13 should be vaccinated against a virus which can cause cervical cancer, a government panel has advised.

The Department of Health said that it accepted the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) "in principle".

The JCVI said that routine vaccination could begin across the UK in Autumn 2008. However, the financial impact of the scheme will need to be assessed before it can be finally approved.

The scheme could prove to be expensive, with three doses over six months costing around £250.

The vaccination protects against human papillomavirus (HPV), which is a primary cause of cervical cancer. It is most effective if given to girls before they become sexually active.

However, some critics of the scheme have suggested that the vaccine might encourage sexual promiscuity.

The JCVI said that the vaccination could help reduce cases of cervical cancer by up to 70%.

Nearly 3,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in the UK annually and more than 1,000 women die from the disease every year.

(KMcA/JM)


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