ATLANTA – One in four teen girls have started the course of relatively new vaccine against cervical cancer, federal health officials said. The vaccine protects against viruses, which cause 70 percent of cervical cancer.

The large study represents the figure of vaccination rates for the Gardasil vaccine, manufactured and advertised by Merck Frosst, three-shot chain that targets the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV).

According to recommendation, girls should get the vaccine shots when they are 11 or 12, before sexual maturity.

For the results, researchers verified vaccination information through medical records of 3,000 girls ages 13 to 17. Of the girls in the survey, 25 percent had received at least one Gardasil shot.

“The shots could dramatically reduce the nearly 4,000 cervical cancer deaths that occur each year in the U.S.” vaccine proponents said.

But many people are curious about the safety of the vaccines, said Patti Gravitt, associate professor of Johns Hopkins University.

Another thing that matters is the price, retailing for about $375, although several health insurers now covering it. There are questions about, either vaccine provides lifetime immunity or a booster dose will be required.

“Some parents may be adopting the attitude with their daughters that, ‘Well, you’re still young. I can wait a couple more years before you’re sexually active.” said Gravitt.

“My personal opinion is that this seems quite reasonable after the first year,” Gravitt said, of the 25 percent vaccination rate.

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