Media Release
For Immediate Release
Prevention the Best Option
Friday, 2 May 2008
Young Labour welcomes the government’s announcement of $164 million to vaccinate young women against the human
papillomavirus (HPV).
Young Labour’s women’s representative, Ashley Murchison says, “Cervical cancer kills too many of our women every year.
It's great that the Labour Government is taking preventative measures by vaccinating against HPV. By doing this, we will
save lives.”
Murchison added, “The current cost of the HPV vaccine is $450, by making the vaccine free to 12-18 year olds we’re
ensuring that young women from all backgrounds have access.”
“Prevention is an important way that the government can make a difference to peoples lives, and we stress that the
government needs to do more to ensure that other preventable health risks are mitigated.”
Trials show that Gardasil can prevent seventy percent of cervical cancers. 180 women a year are diagnosed with cervical
cancer of which 60 die.
The vaccine is used in the UK, US, Australia and Canada.
ENDS