Cervical cancer vaccine to become mandatory…

This week’s edition of the Lancet Medical Journal reports that vaccination against the sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer should be compulsory for adolescent girls in Europe.

All the girls of the age 11 and 12 years should be immunized with Cervarix of GlaxoSmithKline or with Gardasil of Merck & Co., according to the journal. This attempt would be similar to the one in the U.S. in which, a bill passed by the Michigan senate last month.

The girls would be immunized before they become sexually active, to avoid the sexually transmitted virus. Gardasil offers protection against two types of human papilloma virus (HPV) that are responsible for 70% of all cervical cancers and 90% of genital warts. As other genital cancers are also caused by HPV, children should be vaccinated, reports the Lancet.

“For effective and long-term eradication of HPV, all adolescents must be immunised,” the Lancet wrote. “Data from the vaccine trial in boys are urgently needed. In the meantime, EU member states should lead by making the vaccinations mandatory for all girls aged 11-12 years.”

Gardasil for females of the age 9-26 was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on June 8 and licensed by the European Commission last week. London-based Glaxo intends to file Cervarix with the FDA by the end of this year.

Source-Medindia
GYT