New cancer vaccines developed
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk
New universal cervical cancer vaccine programme in the UK could prevent 70% of cervical cancer cases per year.
Two vaccines - Gardasil and Cervarix - have been developed to help protect girls between 12 and 18 against cervical cancer. Both vaccines target a sexually transmitted disease, human papillomavirus (HPV) – thought to be behind 99% of cervical cancer cases.
The vaccines are most effective when administered to girls before they become sexually active - before they potentially come into contact with HPV. There are over 100 types of HPV but only 13 of them are known to cause cancer.
Cervarix protects against the two strains of HPV (16 and 18) that cause cervical cancer in over 70% of women.
Gardasil targets four strains of HPV - two responsible for cervical cancer (16 and 18) and two causing the less serious condition of genital warts (6 and 11).
In England, from September 2008, girls in Year 8 will receive the jab in a programme costing up to £100 million a year. There will also be a two-year "catch-up" campaign starting in autumn 2009 for girls aged up to 18, costing up to £200 million a year.
