Every 18 minutes a woman dies in Europe from cervical cancer while annually 73% Irish women die from the disease. Cervical cancer is caused by infection with oncogenic (cancer causing) human papillomavirus (HPV) types. Every sexually active woman is at risk of HPV infection, which may cause cervical cancer, regardless of her family history.

Cervical cancer is the second most frequent cancer to affect women. According to the WHO, each year cervical cancer kills around 270,000 women and an estimated 500,000 new cases of cervical cancer occur each year. In Europe, it is estimated that there are 60,000 new cases each year with 30,000 deaths.

Worldwide cervical cancer affects more women under 45 years than any other malignancy apart from breast cancer. Both younger and older women are at risk of developing cervical cancer, due to new infection or subsequent infection by HPV types that can cause cervical cancer.

Today vaccination technology has advanced to deliver a new vaccine specifically developed to protect against cervical cancer. This new vaccine technology works by preventing infection with oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) that lead to cancer.

The new cervical cancer vaccine primes the immune system to recognize and destroy the virus as soon as it enters the body. Cervical cancer can affect women of all ages but governments around the world have seen the benefits of offering this vaccine, in particular to young women, between 12 and 26.

The vaccination may protect against approx 70% of cervical cancer cases- for optimal prevention, vaccination should be coupled with screening. Modelling studies show that vaccination alongside regular screening could reduce the chance of cervical cancer by 94%, compared with no intervention. Cervical cancer should bring about a dramatic reduction in cervical cancer rates, abnormalities and the need for further treatment. This should reduce the significant anxiety and uncertainty which can accompany abnormal pap smear results.

In developing countries, where the expense of implementing an effective screening  programme may be prohibitive, vaccination may prove rot h e the best option to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer. Vivas health is the only health insurer in Ireland to offer this pioneering benefit. The company has an exclusive arrangement with Charter Medical Group to provide this vaccine at a discounted rate. Normal price is €610 but Vivas Health will contribute €250 towards the cost of the vaccination. Final cost is €360 to Vivas Health members.