TORONTO - Premier Dalton McGuinty says he hopes a new plan to vaccinate more than 80,000 Grade 8 girls will help eradicate cervical cancer and save lives.
Despite concerns expressed by a group of researchers who say the idea of widespread inoculation is being embraced too quickly, McGuinty says the province is convinced it's a good idea.
The Liberals will spend $117 million over three years to offer the vaccination against human papilloma virus, a disease associated with 70 per cent of the cases of cervical cancer.
McGuinty says offering young women a strong defence against cervical cancer is the right thing to do.
Joan Murphy, head of gynecologic oncology with the University Health Network, says cervical cancer is "essentially a preventable disease'' but women must understand that they should still have regular pap exams to detect the disease.
George Pasut, Ontario's acting chief medical officer of health, says the vaccines, which will be offered through schools, will be accompanied by a public education campaign.
