Vaccine approved against cervical cancer

WASHINGTON, June 8 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration licensed a vaccine Thursday against a virus linked to cervical cancer.

Gardasil, which has been demonstrated to be effective against the human papilloma virus is manufactured by Merck and Co., headquartered in Whitehouse Station, N.J.

The vaccine was approved to be given to women between the ages of 9 and 26.

The Centers for Disease Control estimates 6.2 million people in the United States become infected with HPV each year. In women, some forms of the virus have been linked to genital warts and lesions and to cervical cancer.

"This vaccine is a significant advance in the protection of women's health in that it strikes at the infections that are the root cause of many cervical cancers," said Dr. Andrew C. von Eschenbach, acting FDA commissioner.

To be most effective, the vaccine should be given to women before they become sexually active. The FDA cautions women who have been vaccinated should continue to have regular pap smears.