The Department of Health on Wednesday said it was likely to introduce routine immunisation against cervical cancer with a national vaccination programme starting as early as autumn next year.

The likely girls-only programme comes after UK experts sitting on the government's Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) came out in favour of the initiative.

In a press release the Department said it "has agreed, in principle, to accept JCVI advice that HPV vaccines should be introduced routinely for girls aged around 12-13 years, subject to independent peer review of the cost-benefit analysis".

The Department did not say who was to conduct the review of the cost-effectiveness of the proposed vaccination programme, although the Britain's health spending watchdog, NICE, told APM it has not be asked to carry out the job.

Funding for the programme would be considered during one of the country's Treasury led Comprehensive Spending Reviews, the release added.

The only approved HPV vaccine in both Europe and the U.S. is Gardasil, marketed by Sanofi Pasteur MSD in Europe.

However, GlaxoSmithKline's rival Cervarix was filed in Europe in March 2006 and a CHMP decision is expected in the near future. GSK has targeted launch in Europe by the end of the year meaning the UK group could take a share in its home market.

GSK has consistently trumpeted the value of it proprietary adjuvant used in Cervarix and has already launched head-to-head trials against its first to market rival.

Analysts have consistently said both products will be blockbusters and, in Europe, health bodies in both France and Germany have already recommended the introduction of routine vaccination against cervical cancer causing HPVs.