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1,500 Sunderland schoolgirls given cervical cancer jab
Nearly 1,500 Sunderland schoolgirls have had the HPV jab to help fight cervical cancer – one of the highest rates in the country, new figures show.
Almost 90 per cent of 12 and 13-year-old girls in city schools received the potentially lifesaving vaccine, well above the 50 per cent target set by the Department of Health.
The HPV (human papillomavirus) jab was introduced a year ago for Year 8 pupils to protect against the most common causes of cervical cancer.
Letters have recently been sent to reassure them about the safety of the HPV vaccine and the second year of the programme has now started in Wearside schools for new Year 8 girls.
Nonnie Crawford, director of public health for Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust, said: "Being able to protect young women against the future risk of cervical cancer is a tremendous development and we are delighted with the numbers of girls who have agreed to have the vaccine.
"The HPV vaccine will save lives and reduce the number of women who need to be treated against the early stages of this disease.
"Although it is highly unlikely that the girls are at risk at the age when we are giving them the vaccine, it is important that they get this protection early. Having the vaccine now will protect them in the future and the benefits will be felt by women and their families for generations to come."
The vaccine offers protection against two strains of HPV which cause more than 70 per cent of cases of cervical cancer.
School nurses give the jabs, which involve three doses over a six-month period.
Older girls have the opportunity to receive the vaccine at their GP practice.
The aim is to offer the jab to all girls under the age of 18 by 2011.
Nonnie added: "This is one of the biggest public health campaigns ever undertaken and has been very well supported by the local education authority and the individual schools involved.
"It is important to stress that the HPV vaccine has passed rigorous safety testing needed for it to be used in the UK and other European countries.
"It has an excellent safety record and the vast majority of people tolerate the vaccine well. Most people do not experience any side effects whatsoever.
"However, whilst it offers protection against cervical cancer, the vaccine does not eliminate the risk entirely and it is also still very important that all women decide to go for cervical screening from the age of 25, whether or not they've had the vaccine."
In the UK, about 3,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year and about 1,000 die from the condition. More than nine million doses of the vaccine have been given around the world and 1.4million doses of the HPV vaccine have now been given in the UK.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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