New HPV vaccine to be introduced but not for boys

By: Tessa Hawley

A NEW vaccine to treat the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) will be introduced later this year – but it will not be made available to boys.

The Island’s Health Minister has confirmed that the Department of Health will stop using the Cervarix vaccine and instead switch to using the Gardasil vaccine.

David Anderson MHK explained: “From September 2012 we will use the Gardasil vaccine which as well as giving excellent protection against HPV strains 16 and 18, which are associated with 70 per cent of cervical cancers, also protects against strains HPV 6 and 11 which cause genital warts.”

The subject of vaccinating against HPV was raised by South Douglas MHK Kate Beecroft in the House of Keys on February 7.

She wanted to know when the new Gardasil vaccine would be introduced and when it would be made available to boys in the Isle of Man.

Mr Anderson confirmed that his department had no plans at present to introduce the vaccine for teenage boys as it had not been recommended to do so by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

The JCVI is an independent expert committee which advises on vaccination and immunisation and considers the evidence based on clinical and cost effectiveness.

Read the entire article here.

[Note from SaneVax:  Health officials on the Isle of Man need to do a little more research on the controversy surrounding this vaccine around the world. There is very little credible scientific evidence that indicates this vaccine offers anything more than a substantial health risk in exchange for very little, if any, proven benefit.]