Pharmaceutical giant CSL have reported that the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has approved the cervical cancer vaccine for use by Australian women from September.
Early June had seen the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approve the use of the vaccine, Gardasil, in the United States for girls and women aged from nine to 26.The TGAs approval was confirmed by CSL. The vaccine was invented by University of Queensland scientist and immunologist Ian Frazer.
"We can confirm that the TGA have in record-quick time approved the vaccine as being safe for use in Australia so we're pretty happy about that," said CSL spokeswoman Dr Rachel David.
According to Dr David the vaccine would be available at a retail price of approximately $460 from September.
CSL plans to liaise with the federal government about introducing immunization of 12-year-old girls in schools
However the Cancer Council of Victoria has urged women to continue receiving their two-yearly pap tests.
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