CANBERRA, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- A new vaccine could eradicate 93 percent of cervical cancer cases in Australia, experts have announced.
The largest Australian analysis of cervical cancers found that the current Gardasil vaccine was effective against 77 percent of Australian cervical cancers, including human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18, compared to the global success rate of 71 percent.
Using tissue-sampling techniques, a research team from the Royal Women's Hospital and Victorian Cytology Service, found that a further 16 percent of cancers were caused by HPV types 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58, all of which can be prevented by the new Gardasil 9.
Gardasil 9 is currently being considered for inclusion in Australia's national vaccination schedule by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBA).
The PBA is expected to make its decision on whether Gardasil 9, which is already widely administered in the United States and New Zealand, will be allowed in Australia in August.
Kate Bourn, Manager of Screening, Early Detection and Immunisation at the Cancer Council, told Xinhua on Friday that it is paramount for school-aged children to be administered Gardasil.
"It is a highly effective vaccination and can significantly decrease the chance of developing HPV-related illnesses including cancer and genital warts," she said.
The new vaccine being considered by the PBA includes nine of these types potentially preventing over 90 percent of cervical cancers, she said.
"However, it doesn't include all cancer-causing types of HPV, so cervical cancer could still occur. This is why cervical screening, even for those that are vaccinated, continues to be important," Bourn said.
Cervical cancer is responsible for the deaths of 270,000 women globally each year, mostly in developing countries.
