It's believed that schools could hold the key to a new cancer vaccination programme that has the potential to save hundreds of lives. Cervical cancer affects many women in the UK, with British women having a one in 116 chance of getting it at one point in their lives.
Healthcare professionals are very excited about this vaccine, which can protect women from two strains of the human papilloma virus (HPV) - the sexually transmitted virus that causes 70% of cervical cancer. Indeed, the Department of Health believes that this vaccine could save around 400 lives each year and countries where the vaccine has already been introduced have noted a significant 43% reduction in pre-cancerous changes.
Cancer Research UK calls the vaccination programme "an exciting step towards preventing cervical cancer in the UK", and it is being launched through local primary care trusts (PCTs) from September. Nearly all of these PCT's are focusing the programme on schools.
The programme involves a series of three jabs that will be offered to 12-13 year old girls from September. In addition to this, there will also be a catch-up programme for older girls.
The Royal Society of Health, which is a public health charity, sent a letter to all secondary school head teachers last month in order to stress the importance of their role in the programme. It read: "Educational support from schools is paramount to ensuring that there is good uptake of the programme, by helping young people and their parents understand that this is an effective and necessary measure to improve public health."
A study by Cancer Research UK indicated that three-quarters of mothers are in favour of vaccinating their daughters against HPV. However, there are many people who do not approve of the vaccine. In fact, as the vaccine prevents a sexually transmitted virus, some parents are worried that it could encourage promiscuity. Because of this, Sharon White, at the School and Public Health Nurses' Association (Saphna) believes that the vaccine should be separated from the issue of sexual health. She said: "The emphasis needs to be on cancer prevention, because that is key. We don't want the emphasis to be on sexual health, because of the religious and ethical issues around it, although obviously it is linked to sexual health and sexual activity."
The programme will involve giving girls three separate jabs, which means girls could miss one of the vaccinations through absence. As a result, Sharon White believes some children will ‘fall through the net' during the vaccination programme, particularly those in disadvantaged socio-economic groups. She said: "We have concerns about some of the more vulnerable children, such as looked-after children in public care, or children who are school-phobic."
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