On June 8, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil as safe and effective for use among girls and women ages 9–26. The vaccine, developed by Merck & Company, prevents infection with the types of human papillomavirus (HPV) most likely to lead to cervical cancer.

According to the CDC, HPV is the most common sexually-transmitted infection in the United States. It is estimated that about 6.2 million Americans become infected with genital HPV each year and that over half of all sexually active men and women become infected at some time in their lives. On average, there are 9,710 new cases of cervical cancer and 3,700 deaths attributed to it in the United States each year. Worldwide, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women; and is estimated to cause over 470,000 new cases and 233,000 deaths each year.

The next step will involve the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) at the CDC making recommendations regarding immunization practices (including the controversial question of optimal age for vaccination) that will inform public policy at all levels of government.

Whether or not the polictics will play a role in these recommendations (as they did in the continued stalling on the morning after pill) is yet to be seen.

Read more - About HPV

Read more - About Cervical Cancer