It currently costs around 300 dollars for a girl under 18 in Sweden to be vaccinated against cervical cancer. Reporters found that in Sweden’s richest municipality, the northern Stockholm suburb of Danderyd, more than 500 vaccine doses were sold last year.
In the much poorer areas of Tensta, Husby, and Rinkeby, which have a higher population, only 13 doses were sold. Reporters also found that awareness of the vaccine was much higher among teens in high income areas.
Around 450 women in Sweden die every year from cervical cancer. Later this year the National Board of Health and Welfare is to decide whether the vaccine should be part of the general vaccination program, and free to all children.
Source: By Sveriges Radio 2008
