The national cervical cancer vaccination programme gets underway today and will have started in 21 second-level schools before they take their summer holidays.
The vaccine has to be given in three doses over a six-month period and so the 1,500 students being offered the first dose of the vaccine this month will have to return for their second dose in July – during their school holidays which public health specialists say is not ideal – and avail of their third dose in late November.
First-year students not vaccinated before the summer holidays will be vaccinated when schools return in September. And sixth-class students going into second-level schools in September will also be offered the vaccination at that stage.
In all, as many as 30,000 students are expected to receive the vaccine.
Dr Kevin Kelleher, head of health protection with the HSE, said the second dose of the vaccine has to be given two months after the first dose and the third has to be given six months after the first dose.
Dr Kelleher said the 21 schools selected for the start of the programme had been selected on a random basis.
About 250 women get cervical cancer each year, and 80 women die from it. The HPV vaccination programme, in conjunction with smear testing, is expected to reduce that death toll in coming years.
The HPV vaccine, which is most effective when given before girls become sexually active, guards against the most common, but not all, strains of the HPV virus which causes cervical cancer.
More information on the HPV vaccination programme is available from a dedicated HSE website, hpv.ie.
Vaccination Schools Selected
Cervical cancer vaccination to begin at the following 21 schools:
HSE Dublin Mid Leinster
Our Lady’s Grove, Goatstown Road, Dublin 14
Caritas College, Drumfinn
Road, Dublin 10
Presentation Secondary
School, Kildare Town, Co Kildare
St Mary’s Secondary School, Edenderry, Co Offaly
Meán Scoil an Chlochair, Kilbeggan, Mullingar
HSE DUBLIN NORTH EAST
Dominican College, Griffith
Ave, Drumcondra, Dublin 7
St Dominic’s College, Cabra, Dublin 7
Mercy College, Coolock, St Brendan’s Drive, Coolock
Coláiste Pobail, Rath Cairn, Ráth Cairn, Athboy
St Vincent’s Secondary School, Seatown Place, Dundalk
HSE WEST
Loreto Convent, Letterkenny, Co Donegal
Ursuline College, Finisklin, Sligo
Naomh Iosaef, Clochar na Trócaire, Caisleán An Bharraigh, Mhaigh Eo
Jesus Mary Secondary School, Salerno Secondary School, Threadneedle Road, Galway
Ennis Community College, Ennis, Co Clare
Presentation Secondary
School, Sexton Street, Limerick
HSE SOUTH
St Ailbe’s School, Rosanna Road, Tipperary Town
St Paul’s Community College, Browne’s Road, Waterford City
St Brigid’s College, Callan, Co Kilkenny
St Mary’s Secondary School, Convent Of Mercy, Mallow
Schull Community College, Colla Road, Schull