This is what the case is about – The Supreme Court demands a political debate on the choice of a new vaccine against cervical cancer. – Two pharmaceutical companies are competing for the contract to deliver the vaccine. – Several experts believe Norway should switch to Gardasil 9, which is chosen by most European countries. – Today’s vaccine , Cervarix, provides good protection against cancer, but Gardasil 9 protects against several viruses and some venereal diseases. – The price of the drug, assessed against its usefulness, is decisive for which vaccine the authorities choose. – Professor of health law, Anne Kjersti Befring, believes Norway should give women’s health a higher priority and consider economic considerations in a broader perspective than the purchase price. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. During these days, the health authorities will choose which vaccine against cervical cancer will be offered free of charge in the child vaccination programme. There are two pharmaceutical companies competing for the contract: One makes the vaccine the municipalities offer today, called Cervarix. The other makes the vaccine that most European countries have chosen, which is called Gardasil 9. news has been in contact with several experts on women’s health in Norway, who believe that Norway should switch to Gardasil 9. Area director Einar Andreassen in the Directorate for Medical Products (DMP) have previously told news that they choose whoever comes with the best offer. Area director Einar Andreassen in the Directorate for Medical Products (DMP) has previously told news that they choose whoever comes with the best offer. Photo: news – It is important to regain as much health as possible for the tax dollars we spend on cancer prevention. He also said that the specialist group has concluded that Cervarix provides as good protection against cancer as Gardasil 9. If the specialist group is to assess whether the vaccine should also work against other things, they must receive political guidance on this, explains Andreassen. Wants a debate in the Storting That is why Høgre now wants the debate in the Storting so that the government can assess whether the DMP and those who take this election should get new political guidance. Member of the Health and Care Committee at the Storting, Erlend Svardal Bøe, refers to previous cases that several tens of thousands of packs are sold from pharmacies and that more and more people are buying vaccines for their children instead of giving them for free. Member of the Health and Care Committee at the Storting Erlend Svardal Bøe will have a political debate about the vaccine. Photo: Rolf Petter Olaisen / news – Many parents take their children out of the childhood vaccination program in order to give them a different type of vaccine than what is offered today. He says when they get so much professional feedback that this is a vaccine that has wider coverage, he thinks it is important that we also discuss it politically. Both protect against cancer Today, all children receive a vaccine that protects against cervical cancer in the childhood vaccination programme. Both vaccines included in the competition protect against cancer, but the new vaccine protects against several viruses and some venereal diseases. – Today’s vaccine has provided sufficient protection against cervical cancer. But there has also been new knowledge since the last time it was on offer, with several professionals advocating for a vaccine change. He says the increase in other HPV-related diseases should not be taken lightly. Young people doubt the free vaccine Gynecologist Siri Kløkstad works at the Sex and Society clinic in Oslo. She says there are many questions from young women and men about this topic. At the Sex and Society clinic in Oslo, gynecologist Siri Kløkstad says there are many questions from young women and men about this topic. Photo: Sverre Lilleeng / news – They have many questions. Many have heard that there is a different vaccine than the one they have received. Some wonder what they have received in the childhood vaccination programme, and whether it is good enough. She says they are wondering if they should upgrade, if they need a top-up dose of Gardasil 9, because they have heard that he is better. The price is important It is the price of the medicine, assessed against its usefulness, that is decisive for what the authorities decide. State Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Care, Usman A. Mushtaq, says the Storting has decided that the purpose of the vaccine is to prevent serious illness and death. State Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Usman A. Mushtaq. Photo: Ministry of Health and Care / HOD – Today’s HPV vaccine protects against the two HPV types that cause most cases of cancer and the precursors to cancer. The Ministry of Health and Care does not know which vaccines are purchased. This is done according to rules on public procurement in line with the guidelines for the child vaccination programme. The tender process emphasized these guidelines, in line with the Public Procurement Act. Both vaccines protect against serious illness and cancer, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health says the same. They therefore believe that the vaccines can be evaluated equally against each other. Bøe disagrees with that. – That is why I think it is right to raise it in the Storting to discuss it. – Now there are two pharmaceutical companies competing for this contract. And there are major financial forces at work to win that contract. How do you know you’re not on someone’s errand here? – I don’t think we do that. We must be able to have political discussions about different knowledge bases without making those kinds of claims. Women’s health should be a higher priority Professor of health law, Anne Kjersti Befring at the University of Oslo believes that Norway must give women’s health a higher priority. Professor of health law, Anne Kjersti Befring at the University of Oslo believes that women’s health must be given a higher priority. Photo: University of Oslo (UiO) She says financial considerations must be assessed in a broader perspective than the purchase price. – Consideration of benefits and the risk of serious illness are reasons why we offer the qualitatively best HPV vaccine that protects against several viruses. I think that Norway is a rich country and should prioritize women’s health more than we have done in recent years. According to the Apotekarforeininga, a vaccine dose costs NOK 1,600 for a private person. An adult must have three doses for him to be effective. The total cost will thus be NOK 4,800. Kløkstad believes that the current arrangement is unfair. – The vast majority of them think about the broader vaccine, or Gardasil 9, when they hear that he exists. If they have the finances for it. Because it is quite a lot more expensive than Cervarix. Published 09.11.2024, at 09.07
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The right demands a political debate on the choice of cervical cancer vaccine – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
