The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommended this week that all Canadian girls and women aged 9 to 26 should be routinely vaccinated to protect them against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), the primary cause of cervical cancer. The vaccine is only the second anti-cancer vaccine developed, the other being the Hepatitis B vaccine. What is the evidence to support this recommendation and what is the scope of this infectious disease?

• Dr. Joan Murphy, Chair of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists of Canada Task Force on Cervical Cancer Prevention and Control