Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will clarify her announcement on January 2010 regarding the HPV vaccination programme for girls currently in first year; if the programme will start before the summer or afterwards; if it applies to girls currently in first year; if it will be administered to girls now in first year who will be in second year in the Autumn and who may only be reached after the summer; and when the programme will proceed to next stage. [18826/10]

Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 159: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when the anti cervical cancer vaccination programme will be introduced for girls in schools; the way that the programme will be phased; when the first phase will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18881/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 149 and 159 together.

The HPV vaccination programme for first year girls in secondary schools will, as promised, start before the end of this school term with the first schools being visited during the week of 17th May 2010 and the programme being commenced in the remainder of schools in September next. During this calendar year all girls currently in first year and those entering first year in September will be offered the vaccination. Those students who receive their first vaccination in school this May will be offered their second dose through HSE vaccination clinics in July and their third dose in school in the autumn. The programme will continue after this commencement phase with vaccine being offered to all girls in first year in secondary school each year.