South Ayrshire Council News

From September 2008 S2 girls in South Ayrshire Council schools will be routinely offered the chance to take part in a Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) immunisation programme.

Last year the Scottish Government agreed to introduce a free school based immunisation programme to help protect teenage girls from developing cervical cancer later in life. The vaccine offers protection against two types of the HPV which cause 70% of cervical cancers.

Parents and pupils will be issued with information leaflets and a consent form shortly after returning to school in August. Participation in the immunisation programme is completely voluntary.

Any girl who chooses to be vaccinated will need a course of three injections, that will be given in the upper arm over a period of 6 months, in order to have the best protection.

First to be offered the vaccine will be S2 girls with S3 and S4 girls being offered HPV immunisation from September 2009. In addition over the next three years there will be a 'catch up' programme that will start with S5 and S6 girls and will include those aged less than 18 years who have left school.