N.H. to offer girls anticancer vaccine

First state to start free shots program

November 30, 2006|Associated Press

CONCORD, N.H. -- New Hampshire health officials announced plans yesterday to become the first state in the country to routinely give girls a newly approved vaccine to protect them against cervical cancer.

The state's Vaccine for Children program, budgeted at $4.8 million for next year, is funded by the federal government and private insurers and offers immunizations for a variety of diseases at no cost to children through age 18. Health and Human Services Commissioner John Stephen said the vaccine for the human papillomavirus will be provided free to girls ages 11 through 18.

The Food and Drug Administration approved the vaccine in June for use in girls as young as 9, up to age 26. It has been hailed as a breakthrough in cancer prevention. It prevents infections from some strains of the virus, which can cause cervical cancer and genital warts.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says about 20 million people in the United States are infected and 6.2 million more get infected annually. Most infections don't cause any symptoms and go away on their own.

Some infected show no symptoms, but can pass the virus to others through sexual contact for two years, said state epidemiologist Dr. Jose Montero.

The American Cancer Society estimates that 9,700 women nationwide will be diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2006 and 3,700 will die.

State health officials said the vaccine must be administered in three doses within six months to be effective. They said doctors can begin ordering the vaccine tomorrow for shipment in January.

Private and federal funds will pay the $320 needed for three shots for 17,000 girls next year -- about 25 percent of those eligible.