Sussex girls urged to take up vaccination offer (From The Argus)

Sussex girls urged to take up vaccination offer

6:10pm Sunday 25th September 2011 in News

Thousands of schoolgirls are being offered a vaccination to protect them against cervical cancer.

School nurses across Brighton and Hove and West Sussex are aiming to make sure more than 5,000 12- and 13-yearolds are inoculated against the disease.

Cervical cancer affects more than 3,000 women a year and is responsible for about 800 deaths in England.

It is caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV).

The vaccine protects women from two types of HPV that together cause about 70% of cervical cancers.

About 85% of eligible schoolgirls received their vaccination last year.

Staff at Sussex Community NHS Trust are aiming to beat that target this time around.

Immunisation specialist nurse Rosanna Raven said: “This vaccine will save lives.

“We want as many girls as possible in the target age group to benefit from this vaccine, and we would urge everyone who is offered it to take it.

“We gave out letters, consent forms and information at the start of the new term and urge all parents and carers to complete the consent forms and return them to schools as soon as possible.”