Girls urgedto havecervicalcancer jab

Health chiefs are urging parents in Bradford and Airedale to help protect their daughters against cervical cancer.

For the third year running school nurses in the district will be providing the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) jab to girls in year eight who are aged 12 to 13, to protect them against two HPV strains that cause 70 per cent of cervical cancers.

Linda Scott, immunisation lead for NHS Bradford and Airedale, said: “It is vital that girls are aware of the importance of having the whole course within a 12 month period. Without all three jabs they are not getting the full protection that they need.

“Cervical cancer is the second most common type of cancer found in women. In the UK, around 3,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 1,100 of these women die each year. However the cancer is one of the most easily prevented.

“The jabs are safe and there is clear evidence that the HPV vaccination is highly successful in reducing the chances of young girls developing cervical cancer later in life.

“I urge parents to sign and return the written consent form and help protect their daughters against cervical cancer.”

The HPV vaccination was introduced two years ago to help reduce the number of young women who are diagnosed with the disease later in life.

The course consists of three jabs in the arm given by a school nurse through the school year before summer exams start.

Between September 2008 and July 2010 four million doses were given in the UK.

In the Bradford district 80 per cent of girls aged 12 to 13 armed themselves against cervical cancer by completing the course of three jabs.

For girls who started the course of HPV last year either at school or with their GP and have not had all three jabs, there is still time to complete the course by making an appointment with their GP for the final jabs.

Any parents or girls who have concerns about the vaccination can speak to their school nurse, GP, practice nurse or visit their local family planning clinic.