New cervical cancer vaccine is welcomed

A new US-approved vaccine against cervical cancer has been welcomed by the Irish Cancer Society as a significant breakthrough.

The vaccine, called Gardasil, works by blocking certain types of human papilloma virus (HPV), a sexually transmitted disease that leads to most cases of cervical cancer.

John McCormack, chief executive of the Irish Cancer Society, has welcomed the vaccine as a step in the right direction.

‘‘We are in favour of any treatment which will prevent cancer and we hope that if it is approved by the EU regulatory authority it will be ...