The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is urging that 11- and 12-year-old girls be routinely vaccinated against human papilloma virus (HPV) the sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer. The committee also said the shots can be administered to girls as young as 9, at the discretion of their physicians.

This recommendation follows the June approval of Gardasil, the first vaccine specifically designed and approved by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prevent cancer in females age 9 to 26. Vaccine proponents believe that the vaccine could dramatically reduce the nearly 4,000 cervical cancer deaths in the United States each year.

With ACIP approval, it is likely that federal officials will also vote to add the HPV vaccine to the federal Vaccines for Children program, which pays for immunizations for the poor. A CMA-sponsored law also requires California health plans to pay for vaccines covered by the federal vaccine program. Unfortunately, although the FDA approved the shot for females age 9 to 26, is it likely that most payers will only cover the vaccine for 11 to 12 year olds, as would be required by law. The vaccine costs $360 (3 shots at $120 each).

Contact: Robin Flagg, 415/882-5110 or rflagg@cmanet.org.