School leavers shouldn't miss out on cervical cancer vaccine

5.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 26th Oct 2007

Welsh Liberal Democrat AM for Brecon and Radnorshire, Kirsty Williams, has welcomed the news that England is following Wales in its plans for 12-13 year old girls to be offered the cervical cancer causing human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination in schools from September 2008.

"This is an unrivalled opportunity to protect thousands of women from this devastating and all too frequently tragic cancer. 70% of cases are thought to be caused by HPV and each year 1,120 women die of this disease in the UK. It may be an expensive programme but it will be worth the cost in the long-term, with potentially 400 lives per year being saved.

"My concern is that we reach as many women as possible. While there is to be a catch up programme for those up to the age of 18 from autumn 2009, some 19,000 16 year old girls currently attending Welsh state schools are set to leave compulsory education in 2008. This means that they will potentially miss out on the protection offered by this vaccination.

"I have written to the Minister for Health asking her to consider a vaccination programme for 16 year olds as a one-off initiative in this school year and to look at a catch-up programme for other young women who have already left the education system. It is unjust that these women could loose out simply because they were born too soon.

"Such an approach would put Wales ahead of the rest of the UK in demonstrating a visionary and responsible approach to saving the lives of our young women."

Notes:

Jo's Trust currently are currently appealing for the Minister to carry out this one off vaccination programme for 16 year olds