By Gabe Bullard, KWMU
St. Louis – A local women's health center plans to stock a vaccine that fights cervical cancer as soon as it becomes available.
The vaccine, called Gardasil, fights the human papillomavirus, a sexually transmitted disease that causes cervical cancer.
Thursday, federal health advisors recommended the vaccine become part of routine inoculations for girls ages 12 and 13.
Paula Gianino, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood in St. Louis, wants to make the vaccine accessible to as many people as possible.
"Planned Parenthood is going to hopefully lead efforts towards getting Medicaid approval here in the state of Missouri, and in addition, we want all parents to know that as soon as the drug becomes available, we are going to have it in all of our local health centers here in St. Louis," Gianino said.
Gianino said the vaccine could be available in the next two weeks.