Parents should consider life-saving vaccine for teenage girls

Mr Tim Broadhead, consultant gynaecologist at Spire Leeds Hospital, is calling for parents to take advantage of the available opportunity to immunise their daughters against cervical cancer.

Mr Broadhead has expressed his concern that in Yorkshire there has been very limited awareness of the new HPV (human papilloma virus) vaccine – a vaccine that could prevent cervical cancer in thousands of women. As a result, there has been little interest compared with London, where clinics are being inundated with requests for the vaccine which is available to females aged between 12 and 26.

The HPV vaccine has been enthusiastically welcomed by doctors who believe it could save the lives of thousands of women.

The vaccine, which is available at Spire Leeds Hospital, is delivered in three doses and protects against the human papilloma virus (HPV). Trials have shown that the jab can offer 100 percent protection against HPV strains linked to approximately 70 percent of cervical caners. About 3,000 new cases of these cancers are diagnosed in Britain each year and three women under 44 will die each day as a result.

Mr Tim Broadhead said: “Speaking with colleagues it has become clear that many parents in the South East appreciate the benefits of this vaccine and are ensuring their daughters are protected. All parents throughout the UK must be informed that this could benefit their families for a long time to come.

“The Cervical Screening Programme has been responsible for a massive drop in the incidence in cervical cancer, but this vaccine could have an even more remarkable effect and it is essential that parents and young women know the choices available to them.”

The government plans to start a vaccination programme for 12-13 year old girls from next September, with a catch-up programme planned from autumn 2009.

Spire Leeds Hospital has a team of consultant gynaecologists who are able to administer the HPV vaccine to females between the ages of 12 and 26.

For more information, visit Spirehealthcare.com.