Cervical vaccine jabs may help men too

Men may one day be offered injections of the cervical cancer vaccine to protect themselves from other diseases and prevent them infecting their sexual partners. The world's first cervical cancer vaccine, Gardasil, is expected to go on sale in New Zealand in October for females aged 9 to 24, following trials that its makers say prove it prevents the disease.

Almost all cervical cancer is linked to infection with the genital human papilloma virus (HPV), a sexually transmitted disease.

The virus is also linked to anal cancer, which is recorded at higher rates among men who have had sex with men than in the general population.

The company which will supply Gardasil in New Zealand, CSL, says the vaccine development and clinical trials focused first on women due to the greater burden from cervical cancer than HPV-linked cancers in men.

Large trials were under way with men and the results were expected within three years, product manager Joanna Hayward-Slattery said.

Earlier trials showed the vaccine increased antibody levels against its four target HPV types - two linked to cancer and two to genital warts - in both men and women.

"That's not enough to say it will reduce diseases in men. The second part is clinical trials: whether or not being vaccinated will result in a reduction in genital warts and anal cancers."

The cancer-linked HPV types which Gardasil is designed to protect against are associated with 70 per cent of cervical cancers.

Eighty per cent of the population is exposed to genital HPV at some point, though many people will never know, as they have no visible symptoms.

Most people's immune systems get rid of the virus, but a small percentage develop persistent infections.

Some consider it ideal that the vaccination - costing $100 to $300 for the course of three injections - be given at age 11 to coincide with the last of the injections on the national immunisation schedule.

Even if the Health Ministry agreed to put it on the schedule, it is unlikely to happen before 2008.

CSL says the vaccine is most useful if given before any sexual activity begins - prior to exposure to HPV - but it may be useful later too.

Auckland mother Katharine Lane-McLeod said she would consent to her 11-year-old daughter being vaccinated.

"I regret that my 21-year-old daughter will not be given the same level of protection and urge all parents to look at this as a positive step towards eradicating this disease."

GlaxoSmithKline is also testing an HPV vaccine.