A cervical cancer vaccine programme is likely to be introduced in the Republic in the near future, on foot of today’s publication of a Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) report.
The HIQA value-for-money report should pave the way for the early announcement of a formal immunisation programme aimed at 12-year-old girls. The report also recommends a once-off vaccination programme for 13 to 15 year-olds.
Cervical cancer is caused by certain types of the human papillomavirus (HPV), with evidence of infection found in 99 per cent of women with cervical cancer.
The Minister for Health, Mary Harney has said she would introduce a HPV/cervical cancer vaccine programme if advised to do so.
Although there are in excess of 200 HPV strains, just a small number are associated with the development of cancer of the cervix. HPV types 16 and 18 are found in almost 70 per cent of cervical cancers, while another five sub types are responsible of a further 20 per cent of cases. Some HPV types are non cancerous but are linked to the presence of warts in the genital area.
Cancer of the neck of the womb (cervix) is diagnosed in almost 200 women here every year; some 70 women die from the disease annually.
Cervical cancer usually develops quite slowly, passing through a number of pre invasive stages (carcinoma in situ - CIN) before progressing to full blown disease. If caught in the early stages, it has a five-year survival rate of 80 per cent or greater.
HPV is a sexually transmitted infection; it is estimated that almost 80 per cent of sexually active people have been infected with at least one virus type by the age of 50. It is usually symptomless and in 90 per cent of cases, the body clears itself of the virus within two years of infection. But it is when the virus persists that the risk of cervical cancer increases.
Gardasiland Cervarixare the approved vaccines against HPV. Both aim to prevent cervical cancer; in addition Gardasil is active against those HPV subtypes known to cause genital warts. Both products involve a three-vaccine course, given over a six-month period. And clinical trials involving a five-year follow-up, have shown that vaccination is 100 per cent effective in preventing HPV infection and non-invasive cancer .
HPV vaccines must be given before infection with the virus occurs. This means administering the course prior to the person becoming sexually active so that a comprehensive vaccination program would need to be administered to girls in the 11- to 13-year age bracket.