The Western Health and Social Care Trust (Western Trust) is supporting the Public Health Agency (PHA) HPV Campaign by urging parents of girls eligible to receive HPV vaccine to make sure that they get it to reduce the risk of developing cervical cancer later in life.
The HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine helps protect girls from developing cervical cancer when they are adults. It is offered to girls in year 9 and 10 through a school-based programme and provides the best protection against the disease.
After the HPV vaccine was launched the uptake was very good, with figures for year nine girls peaking at 88.1% in 2012. However, since then we have seen a steady decrease with 2017 being the lowest to date at 74.6%, although uptake improved with the chance to be vaccinated in year 10 for those who had missed out in year 9.
The vaccine is offered to girls in year 9, with a chance to catch up on any missed doses in year 10.
The Western Trust’s School Nursing Team has already commenced the HPV Programme for girls in year 9 and 10 in schools throughout the Western Trust area from the 19 March until the 25 April 2018. An additional mop-up session per school will be held in the first week of June 2018.
Irene McSorley, Western Trust School Nursing Team Lead, is encouraging parents or guardians to talk to their daughters about the importance of getting the HPV vaccine and complete the consent form which has been given out by the Schools before the Easter break.
She said: "It is vitally important that all eligible girls complete the course of vaccines when offered in school over the coming weeks.”
"Although uptake of the vaccine has fallen recently, it is relatively high in Northern Ireland compared with other jurisdictions. However, there are still girls who are not benefitting from this free, simple opportunity to do something which could save their life."
Dr Lucy Jessop, Consultant in Health Protection at the PHA, said: “Cervical cancer can kill so we are fortunate to be able to offer teenage girls the HPV vaccine to help protect against it. I would urge all parents or guardians.
“Even though the vaccine has only been available in the UK for nine years, it is very exciting that decreases in pre-cancerous lesions in the cervix and in genital warts have already been seen. It is estimated that the level of protection offered by the vaccine will last for at least 10 years and probably protection will be lifelong.”
This vaccine helps protect against two virus types that cause over 70% of cervical cancer. The vaccine won’t protect against the remaining cancer-causing types, so it’s vital that women still go for routine cervical screening (smear tests) to check for cancer.
Dr Jessop added: “The HPV vaccine is the first step girls can take to help protect themselves against cervical cancer. Once they reach the age of 25 the next step is to go for three-yearly smear tests.”
If parents have any questions about the vaccine, they can find more information on the PHA website pha.site/hpvqanda or contact the Western Trust School Nursing Team on (028) 82835171.
Pictured above: The Western Trust’s School Nursing Team who will be offering year 9 and 10 girls the opportunity to receive the HPV vaccine.
From left to right are: Alison Vincent, School Nurse; Nicola McCourt, Staff Nurse; Irene McSorley, School Nursing Team Lead and Wendy Edwards, Immunisation Coordinator.
If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Derry Now editorial team on 028 7129 6600 for Derry City stories Or 028 7774 3970 for County Derry stories. Or you can email editor@derrynews.net at any time.