Prevention the Best Option

Media Release
For Immediate Release

Prevention the Best Option

Friday, 2 May 2008

Young Labour welcomes the government’s announcement of $164 million to vaccinate young women against the human papillomavirus (HPV).

Young Labour’s women’s representative, Ashley Murchison says, “Cervical cancer kills too many of our women every year. It's great that the Labour Government is taking preventative measures by vaccinating against HPV. By doing this, we will save lives.”

Murchison added, “The current cost of the HPV vaccine is $450, by making the vaccine free to 12-18 year olds we’re ensuring that young women from all backgrounds have access.”

“Prevention is an important way that the government can make a difference to peoples lives, and we stress that the government needs to do more to ensure that other preventable health risks are mitigated.”

Trials show that Gardasil can prevent seventy percent of cervical cancers. 180 women a year are diagnosed with cervical cancer of which 60 die.

The vaccine is used in the UK, US, Australia and Canada.

ENDS

© Scoop Media