HPV Vaccination
The HPV vaccine is instrumental in the fight against cervical cancer because it is almost 100% effective in preventing the two types of HPV viruses that cause 70% of all cervical cancer cases.
WHAT: In Ireland some 180 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year and over 73 women die (Women’s Health Council, 2006). Vaccination programmes, along with population-based screening and education, play an important role in preventing deaths from cervical cancer.
SERVICES:A HPV vaccination programme for Ireland was announced on 5th August 2008 and was withdrawn on 4th November 2008 following budget cutbacks. Presently, the vaccine is only available from some GPs and family planning clinics at a prohibitive cost of around €600.
POLICY:The IFPA advocates for a reinstatement of the full vaccination programme for girls age 12 including a full catch-up programme for girls age 13-15. Women from disadvantaged socio economic groups already suffer disproportionately from cervical cancer for a variety of reasons; however, the lack of a national HPV immunisation programme will further widen this preventable health disparity. Furthermore, there is a general lack of awareness and knowledge amongst women across all socio economic groups regarding the link between the HPV virus and cervical cancer.
The World Health Organisation, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the International Federation of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and many other authoritative international agencies unequivocally support the introduction of routine HPV vaccination in combination with screening as an effective strategy for cervical cancer control. Countries such as France, Germany, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark and many others have already implemented or are in the process of implementing a national HPV vaccination programme.
MORE: Click here to read about the launch of the first European HPV vaccination review earlier this year.