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New cervical cancer vaccine available in Jamaica

Posted by Troy Porter on July 3, 2009 at 12:31pm
New cervical cancer vaccine here Published: Friday | July 3, 2009 Mitchell A vaccine to prevent cervical cancer is now available in the island. The drug Cervix has been made available through pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline, which officially launched the product Tuesday at the Hilton Kingston Hotel in New Kingston. The drug has been on the market for three years in countries such as the United Kingdom and United States, but was only made available on the Jamaican market two months ago. It is effective against the most common subtypes of the human papilloma virus (HPV), which causes cervical cancer, experts say, including the HPV 45, which is the commonest subtype found in women in Jamaica and one of the deadliest. It's nearly 100 per cent effective. Cervical cancer is second only to breast cancer as the cancer that accounts for most deaths in women in Jamaica. The drug is expensive though, costing as much as $7,500. The ministry has no plans at this time to subsidise the cost, as cervical cancer is not yet covered by the National Health Fund. It has to be taken in three doses, says consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Sharmaine Mitchell. The second dose is taken one month after the first, and the third, five months later. The vaccination is administered only as early as ages 10-14 years old. full story: http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090703/lead/lead9.html

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