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Cervical cancer vaccine
20/06/2007
The Scottish Government is backing a school vaccination programme following the announcement today of the approval of a HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) vaccine by a UK expert body.
The JCVI (Joint Committee of Vaccination and Immunisation) has recommended that HPV vaccines should be introduced routinely for girls aged around 12-13 years, subject to an independent peer review of the cost benefit analysis.
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing Nicola Sturgeon said:
"The HPV vaccine against cervical cancer could potentially save thousands of lives in Scotland and we welcome the JCVI's decision to approve its use.
"This is an exciting development that should have a major impact on cervical cancer for future generations.
"The Scottish government is committed to providing this vaccine to girls around 12 years of age and free of charge. It is our intention for funding for this to be included in our forthcoming spending review and we will aim to implement by autumn 2008.
"In the meantime and for the foreseeable future, the cervical cancer screening programme remains the best protection currently available to women."
HPV stands for Human Papilloma Virus, of which there are many different strains. HPV infection is spread by sexual contact, mostly through sexual intercourse, but also through other types of sexual activity.
Some of these strains can be prevented by vaccination, and some, as yet, cannot. Some strains of HPV infect the genital area. This infection can persist and, although usually symptom free, can damage the internal skin. This persistent infection can in some cases cause 'pre-cancerous lesions', and may lead to cancer itself.
Two particular strains of HPV, known as types 16 & 18, are responsible for about 70% of all cervical cancers. Some other strains of HPV also cause cervical cancer. Some other HPV strains can cause genital warts.
Despite the success of the Scottish cervical screening programme, in Scotland the lifetime risk of a woman developing cervical cancer is 1 in 124. 282 new cases of cervical cancer were diagnosed in Scotland in 2004.
There were 102 deaths from cervical cancer recorded in 2004 in Scotland.