Cancer Society experts propose HPV vaccination for girls
PRESS RELEASE
Helsinki, 9 November, 2007
Experts at the Finnish Cancer Society have urged the adoption of a nationwide programme of vaccinations against the human papillomavirus (HPV) in a research setting. Their proposal focuses particularly on the cervical cancer prevention value of HPV vaccination.
The vaccination programme would be for girls aged from 10-12. A follow-up jab (a catch-up vaccination) would be given to 13-16 year-olds to accelerate the impact of HPV vaccines within the population.
HPV is a sexually transmitted infection. It is best vaccinated against before girls become sexually active.
The expert group stresses that the continuation of the screening programme for cervical cancer detection is necessary. Sex education and information needs also to be promoted sufficiently in planning the HPV vaccination programme.
The cervical cancer screening programme has produced good results in Finland. The country has the lowest incidence of the disease in the world. On average 150 women contract the disease each year, and the incidence rate is 4 in 100 000.
HPV results in infection that is the precondition for the development of cervical cancer. Vaccines protect against the most common types of cancerous HPV, which are types 16 and 18. About 70% of cancers are related to HPV types 16 and 18.
Cervical cancer develops through a preliminary stage. The existence of this preliminary stage is one of the main reasons why the cervical cancer screening programme was taken up in the 1960s. The programme has resulted in an 80% drop in the disease.
The drawback with preliminary stage treatment and follow-up is that it causes anxiety to patients and is a burden of the healthcare system.
There are two vaccinations on the market used against HPV. Gardasil is used for types 6, 11, 16 and 18. Cervarix is for use against types 16 and 18. Some 7,000 people in Finland have taken part in vaccination trials.
They comprise young women aged between 15 and 26. The monitoring period varies from 15 months to four-and-a-half years. The population effect of the vaccination is, according to different analyses, between 17-20%.
Vaccination does not protect against all types of HPV, and it cannot be used for treating the disease. The vaccines are expensive, and it is uncertain what overall impact vaccination has on the preliminary stage of cervical cancer.
Research nevertheless supports the use of vaccination to protect against HPV infection. There is a need for more concerted efforts on the matter, as there are no international recommendations on the use of HPV vaccination and results on the effectiveness against cancer are not available.
More information:
Secretary General Harri Vertio, MD, Cancer Society of Finland
Tel. +358 9 1353 3210
Mobile +358 50 567 7558