19 Nov 2011

Cervical cancer vaccines planned for two million girls

6:13 am on 19 November 2011

The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation plans to provide vaccines against cervical cancer for two million girls in developing countries over the next four years.

The group says girls in nine countries will benefit from the programme.

Policy managing director Nina Schwalbe says it is only fair this vaccine be provided to girls in poorer countries.

However, the programme still depends on negotiating a final price deal with manufacturers.

GAVI says discussions are continuing with the makers of the world's two approved HPV vaccines, Merck & Co Inc and GlaxoSmithKline Plc.

HPV, human papillomavirus, is a sexually transmitted virus that causes most cases of cervical cancer. There are an estimated 275,000 deaths per year from it.