Cervical cancer vaccine GUIDE

I have a 12-year-old daughter who is healthy and has taken all her scheduled vaccines since birth. My doctor’s clinic has a poster about a cervical cancer vaccine. I’m not sure whether this vaccine is necessary for my daughter. Please advise.

- 

Leena Jaiswal, Bangalore 

The vaccine for cervical cancer, known as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, is considered essential by many healthcare authorities. This is because HPV infection is a major risk factor for development of cervical cancer, and the vaccine prevents infection from almost all types of HPV viruses. Cervical cancer is the second most leading cause of cancers among women in India.

My daughter is ten and has not yet attained puberty. My gynaecologist suggested she take the HPV vaccine. Isn’t she too young for this vaccine? Is it a single dose vaccine?