Anti-cancer jabs for girls

Amanda Crook

June 21, 2007

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Health minister Caroline Flint

JABS tested in Manchester which protect against cervical cancer should be given to all girls aged 12-13, a government health watchdog says.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has recommended the vaccines to protect against the sexually transmitted infection human papillomavirus, which can lead to cervical cancer.

The Department of Health has agreed `in principle' to accept the advice that the vaccines, tested at St Mary's Hospital, Manchester, should be given to girls aged 12-13.

It said routine vaccination of girls could start in autumn 2008.

But some critics have argued that vaccinating against HPV might encourage sexual promiscuity.

Public Health Minister Caroline Flint said: "Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer of women worldwide.

"In the UK alone, the lifetime risk of developing cervical cancer is one in 116. The benefits of introducing this vaccine will be felt by women and their families for generations to come."

The virus causes 99 per cent of invasive cervical cancer and the new jab would protect against the viruses responsible for about 70 per cent of cases.

About 80 per cent of sexually active women can expect to have an HPV infection at some point in their lives.

Boys could also be vaccinated in the hope of eventually eradicating HPV.

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Snare Drum, Ashton-under-Lyne (21/06/2007 at 20:56)

Yes but as usual its lets forget the boys like the men there is no screaning for testicular cancers. Can anyone tell me why?

mike (22/06/2007 at 14:09)

Very few men get testicular cancer. In fact, more men died from breast cancer in 2005 than died from testicular cancer: 82 men in all age groups died from breast cancer, compared to 67 for testicular cancer
This info is online at the Office for National Statistics called "Deaths by age, sex and underlying cause 2005"

yvonne, Bolton (22/06/2007 at 15:03)

I wish this vaccine had been available for me, there is no screening available for the virus, you dont need to be promiscuous to get it you can be in just one long term relationship.The benefits far out weigh any negatives not only will it save countless lives, but it will stop women having to go through the trauma of having to have countless invasive treatments to get rid of this virus.

Samantha G (22/06/2007 at 23:37)

Wish this could of been available for me.. :/

Snare Drum, Ashton-under-Lyne (24/06/2007 at 20:44)

No they don't all die but that is only because many find it in time and only because they went in for a check up with connected problems. It is treatable if caught in time but that does not subtract from the point that men should be screaned as well as women, its called equality.

HCB, Chapel-en-le-Frith (26/06/2007 at 09:57)

How sad that instead of being happy that we have a tick against one cancer, and we know one cure can lead to another, men have to bleat on about testicular cancer. This is, like breast cancer, up to the individual to do the first line checks and then go to the doctors. Most men won't go to the doctors about personal matters. So look to yourself both man and women, check and ask questions. You may find the GP offers well men and women clinics for basic screening.

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