Beating Cervical Cancer

Is your daughter approaching year 8? Starting this September 2008, a new vaccination for Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) will be offered to all 12 – 13 year old girls (usually in school Year 8). The HPV vaccine helps protect against cervical cancer, a disease that causes 3000 deaths every year.

The vaccination will be given in schools only and is not available from doctor’s surgeries. Consent forms and detailed information about the vaccine will be sent home with your daughter.

Year 8 girls will be offered the vaccination first, but if you have an older daughter, she will also be entitled to the vaccine under the catch-up plan commencing in 2009.

By having this vaccination your daughter will be protected for years to come against the two types of human papilloma virus that cause the most cases (over 70%) of cervical cancer.

If you would like more details about the vaccine you can download a Q&A information sheet that should answer any questions you might have, at: www.immunisation.nhs.uk/hpv.

The website also includes a scientific fact sheet on the virus, the disease and the vaccine, as well as links to other useful web pages. You can also contact your School Nurse, Alison Bunce, for more advice, tel 01793 889413.