Should schoolgirls be vaccinated against can...( The routine vaccination of children ...),Health

The routine vaccination of children against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) - the first adolescent vaccine against a sexually transmitted infection - will be discussed at the National Cancer Research Institute conference in Birmingham today (1515hrs, Tuesday 2 October).

Professor Henry Kitchener, of The University of Manchester, will chair the session and discuss the role of preventative HPV vaccines.

His colleague Dr Loretta Brabin, who is leading a pilot study into the acceptability and feasibility of the three-dose vaccine Cervarix, will also contribute. The study Department of Health is aware of the study, which will help inform the national vaccine programme.

The other speakers include Professor Richard Roden, of the John Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, US, who will discuss second generation preventative HPV vaccines which would potentially protect against a broader range of high risk HPV types.

Professor Cornelius Melief, of Leiden University Medical Centre, in The Netherlands, will present data on the use of a therapeutic HPV vaccine which is designed to treat established HPV-associated precancerous lesions.

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