Legalized vaccine against cervical cancer
2006/10/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria
In the United States, the first vaccine against cervical cancer was legalized in June. The virus that produces this type of cancer, the human papilloma virus, is spread through sex, so the first option that was studied was the pill of the day after. However, anti-abortion groups were totally against the pill of the day after, and women's associations were asked to take action because the disease has contaminated five hundred thousand women around the world.
Therefore, the vaccine has been legalized instead of the pill, although it is not the cheapest option to receive the medication. In fact, each dose costs 100 euros and for six months three doses must be taken to make the vaccine effective. Therefore, the people most in need of the vaccine, the poor adolescents, do not have sufficient economic resources to get the vaccine. The vaccine is currently being used in the US and Mexico, but efforts are being made to legalize and sell in Europe, Australia, Asia and South America.
