Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Fund Backs Cervical Cancer Vaccine in Poor Nations





LONDON (Reuters) - The GAVI international immunizations group has agreed to fund the roll-out of vaccines against cervical cancer in developing countries, offering protection against a disease that kills one woman Nearly 90 percent of the 275,000 deaths every year occur in poor nations, where cervical screening programs that are routine in rich nations are virtually non-existent.

The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation said up to 2 million girls in nine developing countries could be protected from cervical cancer by 2015 under the program, which still depends on negotiating a final price deal with manufacturers.

Nina Schwalbe, its managing director for policy and performance, said discussions were ongoing with the makers of the world's two approved HPV vaccines, every two minutes