'High uptake' for cancer vaccine

The health minister has praised schools for facilitating the programme

Nearly 85% of 11 and 12-year-old girls in Northern Ireland have had the cervical cancer jab.

The programme to immunise year nine girls against HPV, a virus which can cause the cancer, started in September 2008.

Health Minister Michael McGimpsey welcomed the uptake rates.

He said: 'The vaccination programme is about saving lives. I would encourage all parents to continue to consent for their child to have the vaccine.'

Almost 90% of 11 and 12-year-old girls received the first dose of the vaccine and to date 84.28% have gone on to receive their second dose.

Each year in Northern Ireland about 80 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed, resulting in between 30 and 40 deaths.

The cancer is caused by the human papillomavirus or HPV, which is spread from one person to another during sexual activity.

There are over 100 types of HPV but only 13 of these are known to cause cervical cancer and just two types - types 16 and 18 - cause more than 70% of the cases.

The vaccine will protect against types 16 and 18 which are the two most common types causing cervical cancer.

Catch-up

The vaccine will not protect against the remaining cancer causing types, so those who have been vaccinated will continue to go for routine cervical screening.

Mr McGimpsey said that much of the credit for the uptake rate should go to schools for accommodating and facilitating the programme and to the school health service for delivering it.

He has also announced details of a one-off catch up programme.

He said: "The catch-up programme to enable all girls born between 2 July 1991 and 1 July 1995 the opportunity to receive the HPV vaccination in 2009/2010.

"The original intention had been to spread this programme over two school years. However, significant savings have been achieved in the vaccine procurement which will allow us to deliver the catch-up programme in a single year."

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