Girls aged 12 to 18 are being reminded to have the full course of HPV jabs to fully protect themselves against cervical cancer for years to come.

All girls are being offered the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccination, which protects against the two strains of HPV that can cause most cervical cancers – but they must complete the course of three jabs to get full protection.

Cervical cancer is the most preventable form of cancer, yet it is still the second biggest killer of women under 35. Each year in the UK about 3,000 women are diagnosed, with 1,000 dying from the disease.

Take-up of the HPV vaccination programme, which has been running for three years, is good in Bradford and Airedale, with more than 80 per cent of 12 to 13-year-olds completing the course of three jabs last year, and an increase to 90 per cent expected this year.

Girls aged 12 to 13 get their jabs at school from the school nurse and other girls, aged 14 to 18, visit their GP surgery. Reminder letters are sent from GPs to the older girls.

Linda Scott, vaccination lead at NHS Bradford and Airedale, said: “Once you start the course it is essential that you have all three vaccinations over a six- month period to make sure you have the full protection.

“Our priority is to protect girls in their early teens and encourage them all to have the full course of jabs to protect themselves against cervical cancer.

“We’re really pleased with the take-up rate, and aim to do even better this year, but it’s also very important for older girls to get protected too by booking an appointment at their local GP surgery.”

Because the vaccine does not protect against all types of the virus that causes cervical cancer, it is essential to have smear tests when older (25 and over in England).

For more information, visit nhs. uk/hpv or call 0845 602 3303 or talk to your school nurse.

  • Read the full story in Monday's T&A