Gardasil® prevents cervical cancer, pre-cancerous and low-grade lesions and genital warts caused by HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18
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There are different types of vaccines available that offer young women protection against the human papilloma virus (HPV) which causes cervical cancer.
HPV is the virus that causes cell changes that can lead to cervical cancer. It is a common virus that is mainly passed on during sexual intercourse.
Breakspear Hospital offers
Gardasil®, which is a non-infectious vaccine and helps prevent diseases caused by HPV types
6, 11, 16 and 18. This vaccine offers protection against cervical cancer and genital warts.
HPV types 16 and 18 may cause up approximately 70% of cases of cervical cancer.
The vaccine currently offered every year by the NHS to 12- to 13-year-old girls (school year 8) is called Cervarix® and only protects against HPV types 16 and 18. (Note:
A three-year catch-up programme was also started and offers the vaccine to older girls aged 13-18.) There is no current plan to offer the vaccine to those aged 18 and over as part of a national programme.
According to the NHS website, "Young women who are older than the catch up age groups will continue to be invited to be screened as part of our highly successful national cervical screening programme (women are invited to be screened from the age of 25)." This leaves young women ages 18-24 without access to NHS HPV vaccines and without access to cervical screens to test early for cell changes, which could lead to cancer.
 On 24th October 2008, the Telegraph reported " The wrong vaccine against cervical cancer has been chosen by the Government and doctors would give their own daughters the alternative jab, a prominent doctor has warned." Most doctors have opted for Gardasil, rather than Cervarix, for their own children as it also protects against 90 per cent of cases of genital warts as well as cervical cancer. |
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Breakspear Hospital offers women Gardasil® to protect against the 4 types of HPV virus and we offer complete cervical screenings to detect abnormal cells and HPV DNA, and test for gonorrhoea and Chlamydia. We offer complete cervical screenings to all women 16 years of age and older.
An important point to emphasise is that the cervical cancer vaccine is not a treatment for cervical cancer, high-grade cervical, vulvar and vaginal dysplastic lesions or genital warts, neither is it a substitute for routine cervical screenings. It is, however, the first vaccine developed to prevent cancer that is approved.
The primary vaccination series consists of 3 separate doses, given at intervals of 0, 2, 6 months. Alternatively the second dose should be administered at least 1 month after the first dose and the third dose should be administered at least 3 months after the second dose. All 3 doses should be given within a 1-year period.
The course of 3 vaccinations is currently £450.00.* The initial visit and vaccination will include a brief consultation with a doctor.
For more information or to book an initial consultation, please contact Reception 01442 261 333.
For more information about GARDASIL, visit Merck & Co's press release.
*Breakspear Medical Group reserves the right to alter prices without notice.
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