The government’s cervical cancer vaccination program ends in June 2009, so nurse Cathy Pattullo is urging women under 27 to have their shots now, while they can still be vaccinated for free.
The three shots required for the vaccination must be received over a six-month period, so anyone who hasn’t started the program needs to begin soon to complete it before June.
Mrs Pattullo said each needle would cost approximately $150 when the funding ended, providing a very strong incentive for women to start the program now if they haven’t already begun.
Appointments should be made with the practice nurse, so no doctor’s appointment is required.
Mrs Pattullo said that as well as the vaccine being free, appointments for vaccination were bulk-billed at South Mudgee Surgery, providing the entire program at no cost.
Mrs Pattullo reminded women that it was still important to have a pap smear every two years, as the vaccination did not cover all the viruses that can cause cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer:
Cervical cancer is caused by a virus infecting the cervix, which is the lower part of the uterus, situated at the top of the vagina. The infection develops into cervical cancer when abnormal cells in the lining of the cervix begin to multiply out of control and form pre-cancerous lesions.
If undetected, these lesions can develop into tumours and spread into the surrounding tissue.