Women's health
Research suggests thatgiving cervical cancer vaccine booster to women in their 20s could cut rates of disease in half
Vaccinating all women against cervical cancer could save hundreds of lives a year in the UK alone, according to the largest study of the vaccine. Government health advisers are considering whether to vaccinate pre-pubescent girls but the research published in The Lancet suggests rates would be nearly halved if women in their 20's were offered a catch up boost.
The study of more than 20,000 women around the world was sponsored by Merck, which makes the vaccine Gardasil. The Lancet said the research was peer-reviewed and fast tracked for publication because it was 'clincally important'. The vaccine protects women against the common human papilloma virus (HPV) which causes 70% of cervical cancers. The joint committee on Vaccination and Immunisation is due to meet in 3 weeks to continue its discussion of whether to recommend the vaccination.
More information is available on this link: Lancet publishes study of cervical cancer vaccine, however you will need to register to read it.
Image © Vladislav Gansovsky - Fotolia.com
Largest study of cervical cancer vaccine suggests it could save hundreds of lives every year in the UK
Research suggests thatgiving cervical cancer vaccine booster to women in their 20s could cut rates of disease in half
Vaccinating all women against cervical cancer could save hundreds of lives a year in the UK alone, according to the largest study of the vaccine. Government health advisers are considering whether to vaccinate pre-pubescent girls but the research published in The Lancet suggests rates would be nearly halved if women in their 20's were offered a catch up boost.
The study of more than 20,000 women around the world was sponsored by Merck, which makes the vaccine Gardasil. The Lancet said the research was peer-reviewed and fast tracked for publication because it was 'clincally important'. The vaccine protects women against the common human papilloma virus (HPV) which causes 70% of cervical cancers. The joint committee on Vaccination and Immunisation is due to meet in 3 weeks to continue its discussion of whether to recommend the vaccination.
More information is available on this link: Lancet publishes study of cervical cancer vaccine, however you will need to register to read it.
This article was published on Wed 6 June 2007
Image © Vladislav Gansovsky - Fotolia.com
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