Currently, the best way to prevent cervical cancer is through regular gynaecological screening and, when necessary, treatment of associated pre-cancerous lesions.

But the two for cervical cancer are the latest in a wave of high-priced vaccines that have come to market since 2001, opening a lucrative new field.

She died shortly after receiving the HPV vaccine against cervical cancer, and there was speculation that she had suffered a severe reaction to the jab.