A new vaccine for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) has been made available in Jamaica. Cervarix, from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), is available through private practice for women aged 10 years and older, so ask your physician for it. This is great news for Jamaica as four women die from cervical cancer every week on the island.

This vaccine offers strong, broad and long-lasting sustained protection against HPV types 16 and 18, responsible for more than 70 per cent of all cervical cancers in women.

Clinical studies

Data obtained from clinical studies conducted among women vaccinated with Cervarix have shown 100 per cent protection against the development of persistent infection and pre-cancerous lesions attributable to HPV types 16 and 18.

Additionally, protection beyond those types has been proven, particularly against HPV 45 and 31, which, together with HPV 16 and HPV 18, account for about 80 per cent of all cervical cancers globally.

Globally, every year, approximately 500,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and more than 270,000 die.

Benefits

With regular screening and a healthy lifestyle, the vaccination is expected to significantly reduce the risk of developing cervical cancer and enhance the quality of life of all vaccinated women.

"The availability of Cervarix in Jamaica represents a step forward in the prevention against cervical cancer in this country," said Eduardo Ortega, vice-president and medical director of GSK's biological area for Latin America and the Caribbean.

"By providing a strong, broad and sustained immune response, Cervarix will help reduce the burden of cervical cancer, providing benefits to thousands of women from different generations and their families."