Anti-Cancer Jab Launched For NI Schoolgirls

Northern Ireland is now to follow an important health promotional lead from Scottish medics - where some of the first girls to take part in the anti-cancer HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) immunisation programme received their injections on Monday.

The anti-cancer vaccine is now being offered to protect girls in NI aged between 12 and 17 from a sexually transmitted disease which can cause the cancer.

On foot of earlier news that the vaccine protecting against the two strains of the virus that cause around 70% of cervical cancer will be routinely offered every year to girls in S2 at high schools across Scotland, schoolgirls in Northern Ireland are to be offered a vaccination against cervical cancer.

Speaking at the launch of the programme in St Joseph's College, Belfast, NI Chief Medical Officer, Dr Michael McBride said: "Cervical cancer kills around 40 women every year in Northern Ireland and touches the lives of many more.

"The HPV vaccine is a major breakthrough in the fight against cancer and will help prevent young women from developing a potentially deadly disease.

"Girls aged 12-13 will be offered the vaccine this autumn, while a catch-up programme will make the vaccine available to girls aged 13-18 over the next three years.

"Parents will shortly be receiving, if they have not already, information about when the vaccination programme will commence in their child's school," he said.

"Ultimately this vaccination programme is about saving lives and preventing the suffering, distress and anxiety caused by cancer."

Meanwhile, some local parents are not happy as they think the approach should instead be to "encourage daughters to abstain from early sex" - which is the way the pre-cancer virus is first acquired.

However, doctors in Northern Ireland have welcomed the Chief Medical Officer's announcement to offer vaccination against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) to all 12-13 year old girls in Northern Ireland.

Commenting on the announcement, BMA(NI) Public Health Chairman, Dr Colin Hamilton, said: "We are very glad to have the opportunity to prevent the impact of cervical cancer on future generations. It is the second most common cancer of women worldwide."

Dr Brian Dunn, Chairman of BMA(NI's) General Practitioners Committee also welcomed the announcement. "This is an important public health measure", he said, "and we would encourage all girls in this age group to take up the offer of vaccination."

Also today the Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF) has welcomed the roll-out of the new vaccine programme.

Liz Atkinson, Head of Care Services at UCF said: "HPV is the main cause of cervical cancer and over 80 women in Northern Ireland are diagnosed with the disease each year.

"By introducing the vaccination programme in girls before they become sexually active, the vaccine protects against the main strains of HPV, thereby significantly reducing the risk of developing cervical cancer later in life," she said, potentially saving the lives of around 30 local women every year.

See: School Girls To Receive Cervical Cancer Vaccination

(BMcC)