Cervical cancer vaccine approved in U.S., Canada mulls use

The first vaccine to prevent cervical cancer was approved by U.S. regulators on Thursday,but some oppose vaccinating children against a sexually transmitted virus.

Ideally, the vaccine is given to children before they become sexually active.

Health Canada is also looking at approving the vaccine for use in Canada, where this year nearly 1,400 new cases of cervical cancer areexpected and 390 women will die from the disease.

In the U.S., some religious groups oppose the vaccination, saying abstinence is the best protection against sexually transmitted infections.

Nova Scotia's chief medical officer hopes the vaccine will be better accepted in Canada.

"I think that it's important if we have a vaccine that can prevent cervical cancer and also prevent genital warts and other things, then why would we not want to give it to those whowill get the most benefit?" said Dr. Jeff Scott. "That's likely to beyoung children before they're sexually active."

Vaccinating school children

Although it's not clear ifthe vaccine will be approved in Canada, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization is already talking about whether to roll it out in school-based vaccine programs.

"In school-based delivery systems, you have a captive audience," said Shelley Deeks, the committee's executive secretary. "So you often can get higher coverage rates, or more of the children getting vaccinated than at an individual physician practice."

The committee is also discussing what age groups would get the vaccine, and whether it should be just for girls or forboys as well. The virus causes mainly cosmetic problems in males.

In U.S. trialsthat lastedabout four years, the vaccine was 100 per cent effective against most types of HPV. But it doesn't protect against all strains, so experts say women will still need to get a Pap test to screen for the virus.

Mona Boyse of Bulington,Ont.,is a cervical cancer survivor who is excited others might be able to avoid her experience.

"If there's something that can actually prevent a kind of cancer then that's wonderful, because the last thing most people want to hear is, 'I'm so sorry you've got cancer.'"

It will ultimately be up to theprovinces to decidehow to deliverthe vaccineand how to pay for it.