Girls to receive new cervical cancer vaccine

The HPV vaccination was introduced to girls aged between 12 and 18 in the Island to protect them from the risk of cervical cancer.

The current vaccine used is called Cervarix, however a different brand called Gardasil will be used for 12 and 13-year-olds.

This offers protection against both cervical cancer and genital warts.

The director of public health, Dr Kishore, said Gardasil will offer equal protection against cervical cancer but will also protect against two of the common strains of virus causing genital warts.

The current HPV vaccination programme has received a 90% uptake and Nobel’s says Gardasil will be administrated exactly the same as Cervarix.