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| Row over cervical vaccine choice | Row over cervical vaccine choice |
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| A new vaccination programme to protect schoolgirls from cervical cancer later in life will be using the wrong vaccine, say campaigners. | A new vaccination programme to protect schoolgirls from cervical cancer later in life will be using the wrong vaccine, say campaigners. |
| Cervarix, made by GlaxoSmithKline, will offer immunity to the strains of a virus which cause 70% of cases. | Cervarix, made by GlaxoSmithKline, will offer immunity to the strains of a virus which cause 70% of cases. |
| However, some experts say the Department of Health should have chosen a rival version, which also protects against genital warts. | However, some experts say the Department of Health should have chosen a rival version, which also protects against genital warts. |
| The government insists Cervarix came out on top after rigorous assessment. | The government insists Cervarix came out on top after rigorous assessment. |
| It seems that the UK is fated to be not just the poor man of Europe but also the warty one SpokesmanTerrence Higgins Trust | It seems that the UK is fated to be not just the poor man of Europe but also the warty one SpokesmanTerrence Higgins Trust |
| The vaccine will be given to 12 and 13-year-olds from September, and protects against two strains of human papillomavirus. | The vaccine will be given to 12 and 13-year-olds from September, and protects against two strains of human papillomavirus. |
| Health minister Dawn Primarolo described it as an "exciting opportunity" which could eventually save 400 lives a year. | Health minister Dawn Primarolo described it as an "exciting opportunity" which could eventually save 400 lives a year. |
| However, some health charities, while welcoming the introduction of a cervical cancer vaccine, said that Cervarix represented a missed opportunity. | However, some health charities, while welcoming the introduction of a cervical cancer vaccine, said that Cervarix represented a missed opportunity. |
| The other type of vaccine, Gardasil, used by the majority of vaccination programmes worldwide, also protects against two other strains, which can cause genital warts. | The other type of vaccine, Gardasil, used by the majority of vaccination programmes worldwide, also protects against two other strains, which can cause genital warts. |
| The Terrence Higgins Trust said it was disappointed at the "short-sightedness" of the decision, and accused the government of a false economy. | The Terrence Higgins Trust said it was disappointed at the "short-sightedness" of the decision, and accused the government of a false economy. |
| "It seems that the UK is fated to be not just the poor man of Europe but also the warty one." | "It seems that the UK is fated to be not just the poor man of Europe but also the warty one." |
| A spokesman for the Family Planning Association added: "Genital warts is the second most common sexually transmitted infection in the UK after chlamydia. | A spokesman for the Family Planning Association added: "Genital warts is the second most common sexually transmitted infection in the UK after chlamydia. |
| The vaccination programme has always been about cervical cancer protection, irrespective of which vaccine was chosen. We chose the vaccine that best met this need Department of Health | The vaccination programme has always been about cervical cancer protection, irrespective of which vaccine was chosen. We chose the vaccine that best met this need Department of Health |
| "Selecting the Gardasil vaccine would've been a huge preventative measure in terms of health and financial costs to the NHS." | "Selecting the Gardasil vaccine would've been a huge preventative measure in terms of health and financial costs to the NHS." |
| Sexual health charity Brook echoed this, describing the rejection of Gardasil as "a shame". | Sexual health charity Brook echoed this, describing the rejection of Gardasil as "a shame". |
| However, the Department of Health were quick to reject the suggestion that it had made the wrong choice. | However, the Department of Health were quick to reject the suggestion that it had made the wrong choice. |
| A spokesman said: "The contract has been awarded for the vaccine that scored best overall against a number of pre-agreed criteria and offers best overall value to the NHS. | A spokesman said: "The contract has been awarded for the vaccine that scored best overall against a number of pre-agreed criteria and offers best overall value to the NHS. |
| "The vaccination programme has always been about cervical cancer protection, irrespective of which vaccine was chosen. | "The vaccination programme has always been about cervical cancer protection, irrespective of which vaccine was chosen. |
| "We chose the vaccine that best met this need." | "We chose the vaccine that best met this need." |
| The criteria, said the Department of Health, included cost-effectiveness and effectiveness. | The criteria, said the Department of Health, included cost-effectiveness and effectiveness. |
| Share rise | Share rise |
| GlaxoSmithKline described the announcement as "great news for girls and women across the UK". The company's share price was 2% up at one point today. | |
| Sanofi Pasteur, the makers of Gardasil, said it regretted that the UK would not benefit from its "unmatched" protection. | |
| The vaccination programme will cost an extra £9 million a year, and will also include a "catch-up" campaign for teenage girls up to the age of 18 starting in September 2009. | The vaccination programme will cost an extra £9 million a year, and will also include a "catch-up" campaign for teenage girls up to the age of 18 starting in September 2009. |
| Cervarix, which is licenced for use in more than 60 countries worldwide, is given in three doses over a six month period. | Cervarix, which is licenced for use in more than 60 countries worldwide, is given in three doses over a six month period. |
| At the moment, approximately 200,000 women each year have pre-cancerous cells on their cervix detected by the NHS Screening Programme, and it is hoped, after a few decades, this will fall as the effects of the vaccine are felt. | At the moment, approximately 200,000 women each year have pre-cancerous cells on their cervix detected by the NHS Screening Programme, and it is hoped, after a few decades, this will fall as the effects of the vaccine are felt. |
| Smear testing will continue - as most women will not enjoy the protection of the vaccine, and cancers can still emerge even in vaccinated women. | Smear testing will continue - as most women will not enjoy the protection of the vaccine, and cancers can still emerge even in vaccinated women. |