Cervical Cancer Vaccine Programme Approved

A programme of cervical cancer vaccinations will be offered to 12-year-old girls from next year, Minister for Health Mary Harney has announced. However, a "catch-up" vaccine programme for 13-15-year-olds has been ruled out due to budgetary demands.

The vaccination programme will start in September 2009 if the HSE can secure a cost-effective way to run the programme and if more than 80% of parents allow their children to get the vaccine.

The cervical cancer vaccine would prevent girls from contracting certain strains of the human papilloma virus (HPV), which are sexually transmitted and cause the majority of cervical cancers. All 12-year-old girls will be offered the vaccine subject to their parents’ consent.

The Minister said the HSE would now enter a tender process with the two pharmaceutical companies that make the vaccines.

Cervical cancer is currently the eighth most frequently diagnosed cancer in women in Ireland. In contrast to other European countries, cervical cancer rates continue to rise in Ireland. About 180 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed each year and around 70 women will die from it. Experts say that a combination of vaccination and cervical cancer screening could prevent up to 95% of cases.

The Health Information and Quality Authority, which recommended the introduction of the vaccination programme, welcomed the announcement.

Posted Monday 11th August 2008