Irish Cancer Society welcomes more girls getting the HPV vaccine

New uptake figures show importance of advocates like Laura Brennan and HPV Vaccination Alliance.

The Irish Cancer Society today welcomes the news that almost two-in- three girls (65%) availed of the HPV vaccine in the last school year. This represents an increase from 51%.

Irish Cancer Society CEO Averil Power said: “The HPV vaccine is safe and saves lives. On average 264 women in Ireland get cervical cancer each year, and 88 women die from this awful disease. The HPV vaccine can help stop this.

“The Irish Cancer Society has been working hard over the last two years to combat misinformation about the HPV vaccine and ensure that parents know the facts when it comes to deciding whether their daughter should receive it through the second-level schools immunisation programme.

“This latest increase in vaccine uptake shows that fact-based information campaigns are working. Laura Brennan has been vital to this work, and we are delighted to see her efforts recognised today through the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland presenting her with a patient advocacy award.

“The HPV Vaccination Alliance, founded by the Society and comprising 38 organisations including leading health, children and women’s groups, has also done sterling work in offering accurate information on the vaccine to the public from trustworthy sources.

“While the increase in uptake is a positive step, clearly more work needs to be done to ensure everyone gets the facts about this safe and effective vaccine. This autumn 30,000 first-year second-level schoolgirls will be offered it through the national immunisation programme. Older schoolgirls who declined the vaccine initially have a second chance to receive it by contacting their local health office. We strongly encourage the families of all these girls to avail of this potentially life-saving intervention.

“It’s the Irish Cancer Society’s wish that, this time next year, boys as well as girls will be offered this vaccine. Around 85 men in Ireland develop a HPV-caused cancer each year which could potentially be prevented by this simple and safe inoculation. The Taoiseach has already promised that boys will be offered the vaccine in 2019, and we will work hard to ensure he keeps this promise so that as many lives as possible can be saved from HPV-caused cancers.”