Alabama was tied for third place along with Connecticut and three other states in the Women In Government’s third annual report, released in January and titled "Partnering for Progress 2007: the ‘State’ of Cervical Cancer Prevention in America."

Minnesota came in first with 83 percent, receiving the report’s first ever "Excellent" grade, while Illinois placed second with a score of 78. Alabama received a 72 to tie it with Connecticut, Maine, North Carolina and Rhode Island.

Alabama’s score, up from a "Very Good" 69 percent the year before, was based in part on efforts to screen for cervical cancer in the past three years and the percentage of women with health insurance (82 percent).

It also showed the state’s Medicaid program covers testing for HPV, a disease that can lead to cervical cancer, and a Pap test for routine screening of women aged 30 or older.

The report also showed that, while states are making progress, there are still racial disparities in cervical cancer incidence, mortality and screening rates.

Studies show the vaccine to be 100 percent effective at preventing disease from the HPV types that account for 70 percent of all cervical cancers and 90 percent of genital warts.

The federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has recommended that the vaccine be given routinely to all 11- and 12-year-old girls as well as other approved age groups at a clinician’s discretion.

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