Genital Warts Advisor

Government promises free cervical cancer vaccination campaign

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• Author: Steven Johns
• May 18, 2008
• Category: cancer

FREE vaccinations against a virus that can cause cervical cancer will be made available for girls aged 12 to 18 within the next five years.

Prime Minister Helen Clark announced last week that the government will pledge $164.2million to fund a vaccine against the human papilloma virus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted infection linked with cervical cancer.

A national immunisation programme will be rolled out from September.

Dr Nikki Turner of the Immunisation Advisory Centre says the move will have a “significant impact on reducing cervical cancer”.

“It has already been introduced to many Western countries including Australia, the UK, the USA, and Canada. This is a hugely positive step for young women in New Zealand.”

HPV viruses are part of the wart virus family and lead to a range of genital cancers and genital warts.

Every year 180 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and around 60 die from the disease.

“HPV infection is extremely common in all sexually active women,” says Dr Turner.

“Three years after becoming sexually active, around two thirds of women have been exposed to HPV virus, regardless of their number of sexual partners.

“While 98 per cent of infections resolve without any problems, about two per cent are still present after five years.

“Persistent on-going infection over 10 years or more can lead to cancer.”

The vaccine will be free for more than 300,000 young women aged 12 to 18 and is expected to save around 30 lives each year.

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