Was Cervarix a popular choice?
There was some controversy about its selection over Gardasil. Some experts suggest Gardasil would have been a better option because it targets four strains of HPV – two responsible for cervical cancer (16 and 18) and two causing the less serious condition of genital warts (6 and 11). Gardasil is used by the majority of vaccination programmes worldwide which are already up and running. However, the Department of Health in England insists Cervarix came out on top after a rigorous assessment. How does HPV cause cancer? There are over 100 types of HPV but only 13 of them are known to cause cancer. The others are harmless or cause genital warts. Most HPV infections clear up by themselves, but in some people the infection can last a long time. HPV infects the cells of the surface of the cervix (the neck of the womb) where it can stay for many years without you knowing. The HPV virus can damage these cells leading to changes in their appearance. Over time, these changes can develop into cervi
