Cervical cancer vaccine snubbed

A WORLD-first vaccine that prevents 70 per cent of cervical cancers has been knocked back from Australia’s national immunisation program, Labor says.

The government’s pharmaceutical advisory body today rejected an application from Australian manufacturer CSL to have the vaccine Gardasil available free to all females aged 12 to 26.
Australian-designed Gardasil halts the spread of sexually-transmitted human papilloma virus (HPV), which causes 70 per cent of cervical cancer.

About 700 Australian women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year and 270 die, according to the NSW Cancer Council.

The vaccine has been on the market for two months but costs $460 for patients to take the recommended three doses.

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) considered whether to subsidise the drug at its regular meeting in Canberra last week.

Professor Ian Frazer, who was named Australian of the Year 2006 for designing the vaccine, and CSL were told today it had been knocked back due to its high price.

Labor health spokeswoman Julia Gillard’s office confirmed the application was rejected.

Ms Gillard said about two million Australian woman would have been able to access the vaccine under the immunisation plan, dramatically cutting the cancer rate.

An average of 40 women a day underwent operations because of cervical cancer, she said, and some died.

But the PBAC’s decision to recommend against subsidising the vaccine meant some women would not be able to afford to immunise themselves against the cancer.

“I am absolutely astonished at this decision and the fact that it appears the only reason given by the PBAC was cost,” she said.

“The PBAC should immediately reconsider this decision.

“If they don’t, I am worried that Australian women and girls will be denied the medical miracle that is the cervical cancer vaccine because they can’t afford to pay for it.”

Source - The Herald Sun (November 2006)