Portugal Launches Uterus Cancer Vaccination Campaign

APPA NEWS, LISBON - PORTUGAL - Portuguese Health Authorities have successfully launched a national vaccination programme aimed at curbing down uterine cancer risks, having already administered the jab to 23.000 women aged 13, in the first week.

The Portuguese National Vaccination Plan - PVN - had an initial target of 27.000 young women vaccinated until the end of the year, but is well ahead of schedule, according to Ms Ana Jorge, Portuguese Health Minister.

The Plan aims at giving the jab, which is free of charge under the Portuguese National Health System, to all women aged up to 17 years old, in a first phase to last until 2011.

The vaccine, which is available in Portugal under the name of “Gardasil”, has been proven to be 90% effective in preventing cancer of the womb in women up to 45 years old, but the Portuguese Government has no plans to extend the vaccine to the whole female population presently, a point for which it has been criticized by oncology specialists and consultants, namely the Portuguese Cancer Institute of Coimbra director, Dr Daniel Pereira da Silva, who has made his position clear by emphasizing that the vaccine is proven effective in older women, which should encourage widespread vaccination, notwithstanding budget considerations.