Most cervical cancers are caused by the human papillomavirus. The availability of HPV vaccine provides protection against HPV infection and cervical cancer.
A study conducted by Monique MacFarlance Conrad through the Canadian Centre for Vaccinology in Halifax, Nova Scotia, found acceptance of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine among 75% of girls aged 13 to 17, and their parents. Vaccine acceptance is encouraging to the fight against cervical cancer as approximately 90% of cervical cancers are believed to develop following infection with HPV.
The HPV vaccine, Gardasil (Merck Frosst Canada), was approved for use in females aged 9-26, by Health Canada in July 2006. Three doses of vaccine are administered over 6 months. The vaccine series protects against the 4 strains of HPV most commonly associated with genital warts and cervical cancer (approximately 36,000 new cases of genital warts/ year in Canada). The treatment and diagnosis of genital warts and cervical cancers costs about $300 million to the Canadian healthcare system each year - 71% of this for PAP smears for cervical cancer screening.
Source:
Ubelacker, Sheryl. HPV vaccine attractive option for most Canadian girls, parents. The Chronicle Herald, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2006.
