Britain's Department of Health has chosen GlaxoSmithKline's cervical cancer vaccine Cervarix for the country's human papillomavirus immunization programme ahead of rival Gardasil.

The vaccine offers immunity to the strains of a virus which cause 70 percent of cases. It protects against two strains of human papillomavirus

The United States Food and Drug Administration is considering approving the cervical cancer vaccine for older women, and cutting the original allotted time for approval to four months.

Gardasil, produced by Merck & Co., has received approval for women with ages 9 to 26, has been known to stop four strains of sexually transmitted human papilloma virus, identified to cause genital warts and cervical cancer in later years of the carrier

Sex-related diseases affected British youth ages 16-24 the most in 2006, the Health Agency (HPA) said, warning of a continuing epidemic of HIV and sexually transmitted infections in gay men.

In 2006, over 370,000 new sexually transmitted infections were diagnosed - up 2.2 percent on 2005, the HPA said Friday

Nova Scotia in Canada has become the first province in the country to launch a publicly funded vaccination program to protect young girls from the human papilloma virus (HPV).

On Wednesday, it was announced that beginning in the fall, Grade 7 girls will be given doses of the vaccine as part of a school based vaccination program. The vaccines are not mandatory and will require a consent form

New Mexico's Gov. Bill Richardson will reportedly sign a bill making it mandatory for all sixth-grade girls to be vaccinated against HPV, the sexually transmitted virus that can cause cervical cancer. The measure would take effect June 15 -- 90 days after the adjournment of the Legislature.

After an initial approval from the state House on Sunday, Gov. Bill Richardson said, "It's a public health issue, and I believe it's an important step. New Mexico has always been progressive on these issues. ... We've got to find ways for young women to be protected