N.H. Offering Free Shots of a Cancer Vaccine

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Demand for the vaccine against cervical cancer is outstripping supply as New Hampshire offers the shots for free, leading some providers to create waiting lists.

However, the state has no plans to accelerate its distribution program, a public health official said Monday.

“We expected all along there would be an initial demand, but there is a finite amount of resources,” said Greg Moore, spokesman for the state Department of Health and Human Services. “This program is going to take a significant part of our budget over the next four years.”

New Hampshire was the first state to approve free distribution of the Gardasil vaccine, which protects against four strains of a sexually transmitted infection called human papillomavirus, or HPV, that can cause cervical cancer.

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