[Health India]: Washington : A new study of 1,113 women in North America and Brazil has found that a vaccine that could reduce cervical cancer rates by 75 percent is safe and 95 percent effective.

According to the study, which has been published in the November issue of the 'Lancet,' the vaccine against the most common cancer-causing strains of human papillomavirus was 100 percent effective at preventing the persistent infections that cause cervical cancer.

Conducted by researchers at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, the study indicated that when the vaccine was taken correctly, it was 91.6 percent effective at reducing incident or new infections.

Researchers also noted that the vaccine prompted the body to produce high numbers of antibodies to fight the HPV infection and the only side effects were some redness and irritation at the vaccine site.

The researchers, however, revealed that the vaccine won't prevent all cervical cancers because it doesn't protect against all cancer-producing strains. Although, a quadrivalent vaccine that also protects against types 6 and 11 is already under study. (ANI)