Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The figures for cervical cancer and the HPV vaccine in this country are quite stark indeed. Every year, over 6,500 women need hospital treatment for pre-cancer of the cervix. We learn that a woman is diagnosed with cervical cancer almost every day. Almost two women die every week from it. Those figures speak for themselves. Cervical cancer is caused by HPV. The HPV vaccine, which since it was introduced has protected girls from developing cervical cancer when they grow up, has done a great job. The HSE has offered the vaccine to all girls in first year in second level schools since 2010 to protect them from cervical cancer in adulthood. Over the past two years, we saw a downturn in the number of girls who took up the offer. This is mainly because of unsubstantiated claims that have been made associating the vaccine with a number of conditions experienced by the group of young women. It is very important to state there is no scientific evidence that the vaccine causes any long-term illness. Reports of such claims led to a significant drop in the uptake rate of the vaccine, from 87% to 50%, meaning that a large cohort of girls is now at risk of developing cervical cancer later in their lives.

Last week, the HSE launched the next phase of the vaccine information campaign, which aims to support parents in making an informed decision. This coincides with the return of the vaccination teams to second level schools. It is important that parents take the opportunity to listen to the information campaign, which started on 22 March on radio and on digital and social media. It features videos of individuals who volunteered to become involved.

When we examine the evidence from Australia, which is one of the first countries to introduce the HPV vaccine, we note it has seen a decrease of more than 50% in rates of pre-cancerous conditions. It is important that we take all this on board and support parents in making the right and informed decision.

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