HPV VACCINE ROLLING OUT SOON IN THE ELECTORATE OF BEROWRA
The Member of Parliament, Philip Ruddock MP said today that the human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV), which can help protect girls against cervical cancer, will be rolled out in May in his electorate of Berowra.
“The vaccine, which has been developed in Australia, is effective against two of the viral strains which cause 70 per cent of cervical cancers,” Mr Ruddock said.
“The Australian Government will spend more than $537 million over the next four years to give Australian women and girls aged between 12 and 26 years access to the vaccine for free.
“This means that more than 2.2 million girls and women in this broad age group will be eligible for the free vaccine under this program.”
Parents need to fill out the consent forms from their children’s school before the immunisation program begins.
“For young women who are not in school and are aged up to 27 years, GPs and community immunisation clinics will provide free vaccine from July 2007 until the end of June 2009. Doctors may charge a consultation fee for administering the vaccination,” Philip Ruddock said.
While cervical cancer has dropped from 8th to 18th as the most common cause of death by cancer —due to the success of the National Cervical Screening Program — this vaccine will provide further protection for Australian women.
More information is available from the National Immunisation Hotline, 1800 671 811, or the web site www.australia.gov.au/cervicalcancer.