GARDASIL NOW PART OF CDC CHILDREN'S VACCINE PROGRAM

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has added Merck's cervical cancer vaccine to its vaccine program for children ages 9 to 18. Gardasil will now be part of the CDC's Vaccines for Children (VFC) contract, Merck announced.

The inclusion follows a June vote by a government panel recommending the vaccine for women and girls as young as 11. The CDC's Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices at that time also voted unanimously to recommend Gardasil for the VFC program.

The advisory committee recommended giving the vaccine to all females between the ages of 11 and 26 who have not already been vaccinated. Nine- and 10-year-olds may be given the vaccine at the discretion of their doctors.

Gardasil, approved by the FDA June 8, is the first and only vaccine for the prevention of cervical cancer and other diseases caused by the human papillomavirus, Merck said.

The VCF program provides vaccines to children through age 18 who are Medicaid-eligible, uninsured, underinsured or Native American.