Girls in King County and across Washington state will now have access to a new vaccine at no cost that prevents cancer caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).
Over 300 health care clinical sites and Public Health Centers across King County are now receiving vaccine for their patients.
?This vaccine will help improve the long-term quality of life for thousands of girls in King County by helping to prevent this cancer,? said King County Executive Ron Sims . ?Thanks to the leadership of the state legislature and Governor Gregoire, cost will not be an issue for girls in our community to receive the HPV vaccine.?
All girls at ages 11-12 years are recommended to receive the HPV vaccine by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which sets national guidelines for routine immunizations. It can be given to girls as young as nine years and for girls and women age 13 through 26 years who have not already been vaccinated.
?This vaccine is a cancer prevention breakthrough,? said Dr. David Fleming , Director and Health Officer for Public Health ? Seattle & King County . ?We want parents and their daughters to know the health benefits of getting the vaccine and that it?s available in our community.?
Children should get a regular medical check-up at 11-12 years, which makes it an excellent time to receive the vaccine, which is given in three doses over a six month period. Four types of the HPV virus are protected against by the vaccine, two that cause about 70 percent of cervical cancers and another two that cause about 90 percent of genital warts.
Cervical cancer is a serious illness, with an average of 57 new diagnosed cases per year in King County during 1998-2002, and an average of 15 deaths per year from cervical cancer during 1999-2003. In 2003, cervical cancer incidence in the United States was 8.1 per 100,000 women, with approximately 11,820 new cases reported.