Healthy Skepticism Library item: 7295

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Publication type: news

Lavelle E.
Merck, Glaxo Cancer Vaccines Should Be Mandatory, Lancet Says
Bloomberg.com 2006 Oct 6
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601102&sid=aMvpu5plBcfk&refer=uk

Abstract:

GlaxoSmithKline Plc’s Cervarix and Merck & Co.‘s Gardasil cervical cancer vaccines should be mandatory for adolescent girls in Europe, according to this week’s edition of the Lancet medical journal.

All girls aged 11 to 12 years old living in European countries should be immunized with Gardasil, the Lancet said in an editorial. Such a move would mimick a bill passed by the Michigan senate last month in the first legislation of its kind in the U.S.

The vaccination program would be to inoculate girls before they become sexually active, as the cervical-cancer causing human papillomavirus is transmitted sexually. Gardasil protects against two HPV types that are responsible for 70 percent of all cervical cancers and types which cause 90 percent of genital warts. Boys and girls should be given the shot as HPV also causes other genital cancers, The Lancet said.

``For effective and long-term eradication of HPV, all adolescents must be immunised,’‘ The Lancet wrote. ``Data from the vaccine trial in boys are urgently needed. In the meantime, EU member states should lead by making the vaccinations mandatory for all girls aged 11-12 years.’‘

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Gardasil for females ages 9 to 26 on June 8 and licensed by the European Commission last week. London-based Glaxo plans to file Cervarix with the FDA by year-end.