Cervanix: A new vaccine to protect against cervical cancer

Published in Examiner

 

Cervical cancer is a woman’s issue but when is the best time to prevent the cancer?  The Canadian and American health authorities believe that young women should be vaccinated against the disease as young as 10 and no older than 25.  It is also recommended that the vaccine be given prior to sexual activity. There is controversy among the population about vaccinating children so young.  Canadians wonder if this is a good thing to expose a young developing body to such a vaccine.  However, the Canadian government feels it is safe.

 

The existing Gardasil vaccine produced by Merck Canada now has a competitor.   Health Canada has approved Cervanix based on clinical trials of over 30,000 women.  The vaccine has been in use in Europe since 2007 and was approved by the US FDA just last fall.  So far 10 millions doses have been distributed worldwide.

 

The Society of Gynecologic Oncology of Canada, states that both vaccines provide protection against the most dangerous strains of HPV (Human papillomavirus), and they both have an excellent safety record.

 

Cervanix was created to protect against HPV 16 and HPV 18, the two deadliest cervical cancer viruses responsible for 70 percent of all cervical cancers. It offers some protection against three other strains of HPV viruses responsible for about 10 percent of all cervical cancers.

 

Gardasil protects against HPV 16, HPV 18 and also two strains, HPV 6 and 11, which are responsible for genital warts.

 

There are more than 200 strains of HPV, which is sexually transmitted and can also, genital warts, as well as and on other parts of the body. HPV has also been linked to penile cancer, cancer of the throat, head, neck, vaginal and vulvar cancer.

 

Each school system in Canada is offering the vaccine against HPV program.  All schools across Canada are currently using Gardasil. In Quebec the program is designed to target grade 4 students. 

 

Like any vaccine or medication there are side affects.  With Cervanix the side effects include: upset stomach, redness in the injection area, general pain and joint pain, fatigue, or headache.

 

Since neither vaccine provides 100 percent protection, young women still need to go for their regular pap tests even after being vaccinated.

 

There are approximately 1,400 new cases of cervical cancer reported each year in Canada while roughly 420 women will die from it.

 

Sources:

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20100210/cervarix_100210/20100210?hub=Health