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High uptake for cervical cancer jag
26/03/2009
More than nine out of ten schoolgirls have already received their first dose of the cervical cancer vaccine, according to provisional uptake figures.
Statistics published this morning by ISD Scotland show uptake of the HPV vaccine among girls in second, fifth and sixth year at school as of February 16 2009 is already:
- 92.2 per cent for the first dose
- 87.8 per cent for the second dose, which is still being administered
The immunisation protects against the virus that causes 70 per cent of cervical cancers, and is Scotland's first ever mass anti-cancer immunisation programme. The first injections began to be delivered on September 1 2008, taking the form of three doses over six months.
Public Health Minister Shona Robison said:
"These results are a testament to the hard work of health boards, particularly frontline nursing staff. Schools have also worked very hard to ensure a smooth start for this new immunisation, which has been a huge success.
"Best of all, today's figures show girls are well on the way to being immunised against the virus that causes nearly three quarters of cervical cancers - a cruel disease that still robs us of around one hundred women in Scotland ever year."
Scotland's Chief Medical Officer Dr Harry Burns today visited an immunisation clinic at Edinburgh's Broughton High School. He said:
"HPV immunisation will save lives and these uptake statistics are hugely encouraging.
"Being able to offer an anti-cancer vaccine to thousands of girls is one of the most important developments in public health in Scotland in decades."
Health Protection Scotland's Medical Director Dr Martin Donaghy said:
"This level of uptake for a vaccine being introduced into our childhood immunisation programme is wonderful news for our young girls.
"Immunisation will protect girls against the virus that causes 70 per cent of cervical cancers, but it's very important that girls still attend for screening when they are invited from the age of twenty. Together, these two preventative measures can prevent lives being lost to cervical cancer in Scotland."
The required dose of HPV vaccine is three injections over six months. The first dose has been completed nationwide and the second and third are still being delivered. Final figures for the entire first year are expected to be published later this year, as are uptake figures for girls aged between 16 and 18 who have left school.
The statistics were published today by ISD Scotland together with other childhood immunisation uptake rates for the three months to December 31 2008. The previous quarter's record high uptake of one dose of MMR vaccination by age 5 was maintained and increased to 95.6 per cent. Uptake by 24 months for primary courses of diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Hib, Meningitis C and PCV remains stable and high at between 96 and 98 per cent.