Health scare as girls snub cancer jab
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Schoolgirls are
snubbing a vital cancer jab - with as many as half the girls in
some east Kent schools failing to get immunised.
Figures just released by the NHS Kent and Medway immunisation
teams reveal a significant slump in the numbers signing up for the
vaccination against cervical cancer.
Parents with daughters in year eight are urged to return consent
forms allowing their child to have the HPV vaccine - which gives
increased protection against cervical cancer later in life.
Last year around three quarters of all eligible girls across
Kent and Medway signed up for all three doses.
However, this year, that's as low as half in some east Kent
schools.
Dr Faiza Khan, consultant in public health with NHS Kent and
Medway, said: "We are very concerned about the low numbers of forms
being returned by parents.
"More than 1,000 women in the UK die from cervical cancer each
year.
"Cervical cancer is the most common cancer affecting young
women, and is the only one which can be vaccinated against."
Girls need to have three vaccinations for full immunity, with
about six months between each vaccination.
Caroline Wetherill, 37, from Canterbury, gave consent
immediately for her daughter Abbie.
She said: "I read the leaflet that came with the form and
realised how important it was for Abbie to have the
vaccination.
"If it's going to protect her from getting cervical cancer in
the future then it's definitely worth doing.
"Otherwise it's life playing the lottery with your child's
future health."
Friday, October 28 2011
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