24/02/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 19 February, the European Medicines Agency recommended that vaccination should be continued against papillomavirus (HPV), the cause of cervical cancer, using the Gardasil vaccine developed by MSD of the United States and marketed in 19 countries of Europe by Sanofi Pasteur MSD. The Agency considers that the benefit/risk ratio of administering the vaccine remains favourable even after two cases of convulsion and loss of consciousness of an epileptic nature in two girls recently vaccinated in Europe. As a precautionary measure, the distribution of vaccines belonging to the same batch has been suspended, but, according to the laboratory in question, analysis of the production process has not detected any risk factor. According to statistics provided by the laboratory, 22 million doses had been administered in the United States and 10 million in Europe, out of a total of 40 million marketable doses in the world at the end of 2008. (O.J./transl.jl)