Vaccine faces a few hurdles

Kansas City Star: A promising new vaccine could prevent most cases of deadly cervical cancer if enough young women can be immunized. The challenges are cost and far-fetched notions about the vaccine leading to sexual promiscuity.
About 9,700 American women contract cervical cancer annually, and about 3,700 die of it. In most cases, the cancer is caused by strains of the human papillomavirus, which is transmitted by sexual activity.
The vaccine, called Gardasil, can prevent contracting certain strains of the virus and is recommended by health-care experts for girls before they become sexually active.
Because it is so new, costly and unfamiliar to many parents, however, suggestions that state governments mandate the vaccine seem premature.
Getting state attention
This issue has come up in Kansas, where some legislators want to require the vaccine for all girls before sixth grade. Similar legislation has been introduced in Missouri. In Texas, Gov. Rick Perry ordered the vaccinations.
Gardasil has nothing to do with birth control, and it won't prevent most sexually transmitted diseases. So it hardly clears the way for early sexual activity.
Under the Kansas and Missouri proposals, parents could refuse the vaccine for their children. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisory committee recommends the vaccine, produced by Merck & amp; Co., for ages 11-12 and for all young women up to age 26. If followed, these recommendations will save many lives.
At 360, the vaccine is expensive. Some insurance policies unfortunately don't cover it. But the federal recommendation should encourage more to do so.
Uninsured or low-income women and adolescents may get help through local health clinics and special assistance programs. Women are encouraged to continue annual pap smears in addition to vaccination.
More research is needed on how long the vaccinations last. And research into a vaccine that can protect men and prevent them from transmitting the virus is a necessary further step.