It is a very expensive vaccine and it will not prevent 100 percent of the cervical cancers.
It takes care of only the three most common types of virus that cause cervical cancer. More than 80 percent of the cancers known globally are caused by these three viruses.
The implementation of the vaccine in the Federated States of Micronesia has been delayed due to some of the islands’ request for research first, as well as the logistical issues of public awareness and proper planning.
While the FSM wants to implement the vaccine program the rest of the island nations in the Pacific decided to go ahead and afford some protections for their young women instead of doing a research first.
According to Skilling, public awareness has already started and the implementation of the vaccine is acceptable.
But the schedules of the implementation will depend on the final plans from each of the states, which will determine what age group to start with and the total number expected for the initial implementation and the subsequent catch up.
Kosrae and Yap are ready to roll out on the new cancer vaccine in February this year,
Pohnpei is getting ready to set a date and Chuuk is in the process of finding the best way it can cover most of its population at risk.
The U.S. Center for Disease Control will bear the cost of the HPV vaccinations in the FSM.
