Girls in post-primary schools across the country will be offered the HPV vaccination from September as part of a new drive to reduce levels of cervical cancer.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) will write to all schools in Ireland to inform them of the programme, which will be available to female students entering sixth year in September 2011.

All girls will require three doses of the vaccine, with a three-month gap between the first and second injections and a four-month interval between the second and third.

Information packs are being prepared and will be distributed at the start of September.

Arrangements will then be made between the HSE and schools to organise dates for September, November and March.

Parents are also reminded that in order to be effective, girls must receive all three vaccinations.

If not protected against, the HPV virus can lead to cervical cancer in later life, which affects an estimated 520,000 women every year.

Written by Donal Walsh
 

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