Press and Media

March 23rd 2009

QUINN-healthcare and the Tropical Medical Bureau announce Cervical Cancer Vaccine Agreement

In light of recent developments with cervical cancer vaccinations, QUINN-healthcare has signed an exclusive agreement with the Tropical Medical Bureau (TMB) to provide cervical cancer vaccines to QUINN-healthcare members at a reduced cost. The vaccines will be available to QUINN-healthcare members nationwide at participating TMB Clinics.

The Cervical Cancer Vaccination is recommended for girls from the age of 12 upwards and consists of three injections over six months. TMB offers a choice of two different vaccines which help protect against the disease – Cevarix and Gardasil. The reduced rate for QUINN-healthcare members is €360 (reduced from €390) for Cevarix and €450 (reduced from €480) for Gardasil. Rates include the cost of the consultation fee on the first visit and the three injections of the vaccine.

Commenting on the agreement, Dr. Graham Fry, Medical Director, Tropical Medical Bureau, said: "We are delighted to team with QUINN-healthcare to ensure that this lifesaving vaccine is more widely available throughout Ireland. Cervical cancer is a life threatening disease which kills many women in Ireland each year. The ideal time to vaccinate is before sexual exposure has commenced though the vaccine can be given to older women. Abnormal smear results should be very significantly reduced in the future if this vaccine is made available to all young girls.

He continued: “Research suggests that many families are struggling over the desire to provide the vaccine for their children but, due to the charges being levied, have to make the uncomfortable decision to withhold it. In the absence of the government providing this ground breaking cervical cancer vaccine, we have set about securing the lowest possible cost to ensure that we allow the widest section of the population to obtain the vaccine."

Commenting on the announcement Donal Clancy, General Manager, QUINN-healthcare said: “QUINN-healthcare is committed to offering its members the best value on the market. This agreement with the Tropical Medical Bureau means that QUINN-healthcare members nationwide will be able to avail of the cervical cancer vaccine at a significantly reduced rate.”

QUINN-healthcare member Sandra Clack was one of the first to avail of the reduced cost vaccine for her 13 year old daughter Rachel. Commenting on the vaccine, she said: “With cervical cancer being in the news a lot at the moment, I wanted my daughter Rachel to avail of the vaccine. When I checked with my pharmacist, I found the vaccine was quite expensive. Although money is tight for everyone at the moment, nothing is more important than a child’s health so I was delighted when I called QUINN-healthcare and they told me about the reduced price on offer with the Tropical Medical Bureau.”