Gardasil, the first known vaccine to prevent cancer costs $360 for a three-time dose. Studies have revealed that inoculation is effective in protecting against cervical cancer and genital warts.
Advocates of Gardasil indicate that it could lower the incidence of cervical cancer deaths per year in the U.S.
The Food and Drug Administration has approved the license of the shot to be used on females from the age of 9-26 in June. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Policy will make a recommendation Thursday as to which age group should receive the initial immunization dose.
Prior recommendations by the committee have been acceptable to government health authorities and the panels decisions are also expected to influence insurance coverage for the vaccinations.
The vote is controversial because the committee is expected to recommend mandatory vaccinations for all girls above 11-12 years of age to protect against sexually transmitted disease.
Health officials are prepared to face the argument that girls who feel protected by a vaccine are more likely to have sex.
Moira Gaul, policy analyst for the Family Research Council, said that it is not against HPV shots for young girls. However, the conservative group that promotes family values stated that it does not agree with making HPV a required vaccine toward enrollment in schools.
