Gardasil, a vaccine that could prevent many deaths from cervical cancer, will be administered to girls as young as nine years old as part of a national immunization program in the UK. Australia is considering a similar program.

The vaccine can prevent cervical cancer in many cases, but only if it is given to females prior to initial infection with HPV, which is why it is important to administer it to girls before they become sexually active.

The move has broad support among members of the UK medical community and parents.

Gardasil, which was invented by Australian Ian Frazer, became available in Australia on Sunday. Health officials there are considering whether to include it in the country's free national immunization program for all girls. If approved, a nationwide immunization program could be launched there as early as February 2008.

Currently, patients will have to pay full cost for the prescription drug, which amounts to about AU$460 (US$348) for the full three-dose course.

In other parts of the world -- notably, the US -- there is resistance to providing Gardasil routinely to young girls, with some critics arguing that it might encourage them to begin having sex at a younger age. A Catholic church official reportedly characterized the vaccine as "a green light for promiscuity."

The US Food and Drug Administration approved the vaccine for use in females nine to 26 years of age in June.

Gardasil protects women from infection with HPV types 16 and 18, which cause approximately 70 percent of cervical cancers and against HPV types 6 and 11, which cause approximately 90 percent of genital warts, according to the FDA.

A committee of the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has recommended that Gardasil be fully licensed. Upon approval, it can be legally administered to females from nine to 26 years of age in the European Union. Final approval is expected this October.

Some health professionals are recommending the vaccine also be given to males, who can transmit the infection to women.

Worldwide, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women. It is estimated to cause over 470,000 new cases and 233,000 deaths each year, says the FDA. It is believed the vaccine could reduce the death toll from cervical cancer by about 70 percent.