FED: Doctor proposes cervical vaccine trial on babies - report

AAP General News (Australia)
08-27-2007
FED: Doctor proposes cervical vaccine trial on babies - report

SYDNEY, Aug 27 AAP - A doctor who played a key role in trials of a cervical cancer
vaccine is proposing testing it on babies.

Suzanne Garland, the director of microbiology and infectious diseases at the Royal
Women's Hospital in Melbourne, is flying to the US to meet with drug companies and will
discuss trialling the vaccine on babies up to a few months old, Fairfax newspapers report.

Professor Garland said there were benefits to immunising babies instead of schoolgirls,
but one of the questions that would need to be answered was how long the vaccine would
last, and whether a booster shot would be necessary years later.

The vaccine has been tested in children only over the age of 10.

AAP kd/rs

KEYWORD: CERVICAL

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.