Staff urged to promote HPV vaccine

HEALTH workers are being asked to boost awareness among schoolgirls and their families about the value of the cervical cancer vaccine.

In a bid to boost uptake of the potentially life-saving jab, staff who come into contact with teenage females in other health settings are being urged to mention the inoculation against the human papilloma virus which causes around 70 per cent of all cervical cancer cases.

Tens of thousands of Lothians girls are offered the immunisation every year, but the numbers attending for all three doses - which are needed for it to be fully effective - have slipped in recent years.

It is hoped that employees will be able to get the messsage across to more teens, particularly those who have left school.