Oct 27, 2006 10:27 pm US/Eastern
New Cancer Vaccine Not Without Controversy
by Dr. Mallika Marshall
BOSTON (CBS4) ―
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The vaccine's manufacturer says it can protect against 70 percent of all cervical cancers.
CBS
A new groundbreaking, yet controversial, vaccine that prevents cervical cancer is recommended for girls as young as 11-and 12-years-old.
Thirteen year old Lindsey day from Chelmsford is getting the new vaccine called "Gardasil."
"I just think it's really important to me because I've had so many family member and friends and everything who have had cancer before," she said.
The vaccine's manufacturer says it can protect against 70 percent of all cervical cancers. It works by blocking infection from some strains of the human papilloma virus, or HPV, which is spread through sexual contact. To be effective the vaccine must be given before a girl or young woman becomes sexually active.
"If we can prevent more than seventy percent of those cancers with an effective vaccine program that's huge," said Dr. Lydia Shrier of Children's Hospital.
Shrier practices young adult medicine at children's hospital. She says HPV is, unfortunately, very common.
"There is a chance that a young person may be exposed to the human papilloma virus...actually a very good chance, along the way, and here's an opportunity to prevent the adverse consequences," she said.
The vaccine is approved for females as young as nine, and as old as 26 but the target is 11-to 12-year-old girls.
Some people want to make the vaccine one of the shots kids are required to get. In fact, a bill was just filed in the Massachusetts Senate that would do just that requiring girls to be immunized before they can attend sixth grade. There would be an "opt-out" provision for religious reasons.
Evelyn Reilly, with the Massachusetts family institute, says vaccinations should be the decision of parents not the state and she worries about the message.
"I think it would provide a false sense of security, and encourage more young children to become sexually active," she said.
But for parents like Ellen Day the vaccine just makes sense.
"Parents have very little control of the outside world, but we can make some plans now to help them later," she said.
The vaccine must be given in three doses over a six month period each shot costs about a $120.
We spoke with some of the largest insurers in our area and found they are covering the shots.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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