CERVICAL CANCER VACCINE

That this House welcomes the recommendation by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) that a vaccine to prevent infection by the high risk types of human papilloma virus (HPV) which are the principal cause of cervical cancer should be offered to all girls between 12 and 18 years of age; further welcomes the Government's acceptance of these recommendations and the announcement that a national programme will begin in 2008, and that a comprehensive education and awareness campaign will accompany the vaccination programme; congratulates Jo's Trust for its work on this issue and its continued support for women and their families affected by cervical cancer and pre-cancer and notes that all women should still attend for regular cervical screening when invited to do so; and further notes that women aged 18 to 26 years of age would also benefit from HPV vaccination and urges the JCVI and the Department of Health to consider how to make the protection offered by immunisation available to these women.