Cancer jab rate top at Catholic schools

Virtually all girls in some Catholic schools have received the jab, despite initial objections from their Church.

The schools vaccination programme began last year, offering 12-year-old girls a jab that protects against the sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer.

When the decision to give the jab was revealed by ministers, Cardinal Keith O'Brien warned it could be seen by pre-teenage girls as a "green light" for sexual activity.

But the Church did a U-turn after reaching an agreement with health and education bosses that the vaccination programme would not contain any safe-sex advice, such as on the use of condoms to protect against other sexually transmitted diseases.

There had been fears some Catholic schools would not promote the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine but yesterday the NHS statistics division released figures under Freedom of Information laws that show uptake in Catholic schools is slightly higher than that in the non-denominational sector.

And in some Catholic schools, uptake rates are at almost 100 per cent.

Average uptake in Catholic schools is 93 per cent for the first of the three doses of the jab, compared with the Scottish schools average of 92 per cent. Uptake rates in Catholic schools range from 67 per cent at St Andrew's High School in Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, to 98 per cent at Notre Dame High School in Greenock.

The vaccine is highly effective against the two most common strains of HPV, if given to girls before they start sexual activity. The two strains account for about 70 per cent of cases of cervical cancer, which claims some 100 lives in Scotland every year.

Michael McGrath, director of the Scottish Catholic Education Service, said: "I am not aware the programme is being delivered in any different way in Catholic schools.

"We were able, early on, to offer reassurance to parents that this was not a vaccine that was providing a contraceptive for their children or being forced on them or serving another purpose altogether, and that there was no moral objection.

"It would appear parents would want to ensure their children are kept safe and protected against the dangers that they could stumble upon later in life. The choice was there for parents to make.

"I am not sure this would have been dealt with differently in a Catholic school from a non-denominational school, other than if parents had any questions about any sex education issue."

Robert Music, director of the cervical cancer charity Jo's Trust, said: "It is very positive and the uptake is very good. It is good they are embracing the fact that it's important."

Ken Cunningham, general secretary of School Leaders Scotland, said: "By and large, schools are open to sensible advice from the health authorities. I would not have expected a particular difference between the sectors.

"The more moral issues that surrounded it are dealt with by how schools handle their guidance programmes and they will do what they think is best for their young people."