Minister's appeal to girls as cancer vaccine uptake slows

Published on Thursday 25 March 2010 23:32

A MASS immunisation plan to protect women from cervical cancer had a 94 per cent take-up in the first year it was offered to schoolgirls, figures have shown.

Three injections are administered over a six-month period to protect women against the two types of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) that cause about 70 per cent of cases.

Statistics released by the Scottish Government show that, when the scheme was rolled out for girls in their second year of secondary school, there was a 94 per cent uptake of the first dose in 2008-09.

Uptake for the second dose during the first year it was offered was slightly lower and dropped to just under 92 per cent for the third dose.

The uptake during the current school year for second-year pupils, typically girls aged 12-13, was just under 92 per cent for the first dose and just under 86 per cent for the second.

The vaccine is also being offered to girls aged between 13 and18 who may have missed out on the vaccine or have already left school.

Public health minister Shona Robison said: "

Uptake for girls out of school is again slightly lower, and I would urge all girls in this age group to come forward for vaccination."