Cervical cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in women worldwide, resulting in 240,000 deaths annually. In the Philippines, 10 women are estimated to die each day from cervical cancer.
Dr. Yolanda Oliveros, director of the Department of Health’s National Center for Disease Prevention and Control, said the gardasil vaccine of Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) is expected to bring down by half the number of cervical cancer cases.
"This is really a breakthrough. Once this vaccine is out on the market and if the public can afford it, it will really be a big help to many women," Oliveros said in an interview.
The BFAD-approved Quadrivalent Human Papillimavirus (Types 6, 11, 16, 18) Recombinant Vaccine will prevent cervical cancer, vulvar and vaginal cancer as well as vulvar and vaginal pre-cancers. It is also expected to prevent low-grade and pre-cancerous lesions and genital warts.
"MSD is proud to introduce this breakthrough vaccine that can help prevent Filipino women from developing cervical cancer," said MSD medical director Cesar Recto, M.D.
Oliveros said the vaccine could be administered to girls as early as 11 years old or before they become sexually active.
MSD said studies show that the ideal time to administer any vaccine is before exposure to infection. Adolescents are an important group to vaccinate as one in four people aged 15 to 24 is infected with human papillomavirus (HPV).
In a survey of 525 mothers with children as young as 11 years, 80 percent said they would allow their daughters to receive the vaccine that helps protect against cervical cancer.
The papillomavirus, which is the primary cause of cervical cancer in the country, is acquired through sexual intercourse. The more sexual partners a woman has, the greater is her risk of exposure. The other causes of cancer include genetic predisposition, exposure to chemicals and smoking.
Oliveros explained that to detect cervical cancer early, it is important for women to undergo a pap smear regularly to check if there are cancer cells in the cervix and in the body of the uterus. A pap smear is recommended every five years after an initial negative test, starting at the age of 30 but for high-risk women, the test must be done more frequently.