A further study had to be carried out before the government could decide whether to administer vaccination against cervical cancer on adult women, said Deputy Health Minister Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin.

She said priority would be given to schoolgirls as the vaccine against cervical cancer-causing human papillomavirus (HPV) was most effective at a young age.

education high school girls 040405 "We may consider it according to priority and the government affordability. For the time being, we feel that teenagers ought to be given top priority to ensure that they face minimal risks as they grow up," she told reporters at an Aidilfitri open house in Papar today.

Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai has announced yesterday that about 300,000 13-year-olds in public and private schools would get three doses of the vaccine within a period of one year from next year.

Rosnah said the vaccine should be given to girls below 15 years to ensure its effectiveness while women below 40 were also encouraged to get the vaccination on their own.

Shortage of docs critical in Sabah

On the shortage of doctors and specialists, she said the situation in Sabah was critical as they accounted for only 30 percent of the requirement compared to the national average shortage of 53 percent.

"We hope the setting up of the Sabah Medical Centre (SMC) as part of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital will ease the shortage of doctors and specialists in the state.

"The incentives offered by the SMC could woo doctors and specialists to work in Sabah," she added.

- Bernama