THE first ever vaccine to protect against cancer is now available in Singapore after the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) approved it recently.
Gardasil offers total protection against infection by two strains of the human papillomavirus, HPV, which account for 70 per cent of all cervical cancer cases.
Gardasil is made by Merck, Sharp and Dohme. A similar vaccine, Cervarix, from competitor GlaxoSmithKline, is awaiting approval in Singapore.
The vaccine is approved for use in girls and women between the ages of nine and 26.
It represents a major health breakthrough, said Associate Professor, Dr Tay Eng Hseon of KK Women's and Children's Hospital, which was part of the multi-centre trials for the vaccine. 'It is approved to prevent not only cervical cancer, but also genital warts,' Prof Tay said.
But this prevention comes at a price. The vaccine, which has to be given in three doses, costs between $600 and $700, including consultation charges.
Governments around the world are still debating whether to make these shots part of their official vaccination programmes. But until then, parents who choose to vaccinate their daughters will have to bear the costs themselves.
Clinical trials have shown that the side-effects are minimal, like fever, pain, swelling and itching at the injection site. The vaccine is considered very safe as it comprises a virus-like particle and not a live virus.
Vaccinated women will still have to undergo regular pap smears to detect the other 30 per cent of cervical cancers that are caused by another estimated 30 strains of virus, but the vaccine should cut their overall risk by two-thirds, Prof Tay said.
Pap smears - which cost between $20 and $40 - can catch pre-cancerous cells in the cervix. It usually takes five to 10 years for the pre-cancerous cells to become cancer.
Treatment requires the simple removal of the affected part of the cervix.
Cancer of the cervix is the fifth most common cancer among women in Singapore, with about 200 new cases diagnosed each year.
At least half of all sexually active women and men acquire genital human papillomavirus infection at some time in their lives.
'Most women recover from HPV infections with no health problems at all. However, a small number are linked to cancers of the cervix, vulva, vagina and anus,' Prof Tay said.
The vaccine works by building immunity against two of the worst offending human papillomaviruses - types 16 and 18. It also builds immunity against types 6 and 11, which cause almost 90 per cent of genital warts cases.
Experts say the vaccine is most useful when given to younger girls. It is ineffective once the virus is present.