New Laura Brennan HPV Vaccine Catch-up Programme launched

A LATE Ennis HPV vaccine advocate has been honoured with a new catch-up vaccination programme that is named after her in collaboration with the Department of Health.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly lauded the tirelessly campaigning work of Laura Brennan when he spoke to reporters outside University Hospital Limerick on Thursday.

Minister Donnelly and the family of the late Laura Brennan, have announced the Laura Brennan HPV Vaccine Catch-Up Programme.

Laura died with cervical cancer at the age of 26 in March 2019 but her legacy of advocacy of the HPV vaccine has lived on.

Last October, she was honoured with a portrait in the Royal College of Physicians and the RCPI shared an image of Laura’s portrait recently to mark what would have been her 30thth birthday.

“We remember her courage and grace as she bravely shared her story while advocating for the HPV vaccine.

“Laura’s portrait sits proudly in our historic No.6 Kildare Street, a reminder of her legacy,” the RCPI stated.

During the last 18 months of her life, she campaigned tirelessly and made a huge impact in the drive to improve HPV vaccination rates.

Before her untimely passing vaccine take up had risen by 50% in some parts of the country and jumped to 90% in Clare.

In 2018, she appeared on the Late Late Show and also featured in the documentary “This is Me”.

The programme, which is expected to launch in mid-November 2022, will offer free HPV vaccines to all boys and girls in second level education who were previously eligible to receive the HPV vaccine and who have not yet, for whatever reason, received it.

Young women, up to the age of 25, who have now left secondary school, and who did not receive the vaccine, will also be eligible to receive the vaccine as part of the catch-up programme. The vaccine will be administered in clinics. The vaccine is administered as a single dose and is free of charge.

The human papilloma virus, or HPV, can cause cancer and genital warts in both women and men.

A Department of Health statement outlined the vaccine is proven to be safe and effective, protects against the types of HPV that cause nine out of 10 cervical cancers.

Studies from Sweden and England showed that vaccination with HPV vaccine is associated with a big reduction in the risk of cervical cancer especially in people who got the HPV vaccine at 12 to 13 years of age.

Minister Donnelly said: “Laura Brennan is the epitome of inspiration for all of us. Even when faced with a terminal diagnosis, Laura dedicated herself to promoting the HPV vaccine to ensure that as few families as possible would have to go through the rigours of cancer treatment and end-of-life care as she did.

“The Laura Brennan HPV Vaccine programme is a fitting tribute to the memory and the tireless efforts Laura made to encourage young people to take up this vaccine. Vaccines save lives and, through screening and vaccination, we are working to eliminate cervical cancer in Ireland – I really cannot think of a better way to remember Laura than achieving this goal through the programme named after her.”

Laura’s mother, Bernie recalled her daughter would have been 30 last September.

“The reality of living with cancer, and then life after cancer when someone passes away means that we miss out on milestone celebrations with our loved ones. To see the HPV Catch-Up Programme named in Laura’s memory is a comfort and a testament to Laura’s dedication to increasing the uptake of the HPV vaccine. I urge all parents to discuss HPV vaccination with their children and encourage them to take it – vaccines prevent cancer. Prevention is better than cure and prevention is definitely better than no cure.”

Her father, Larry Brennan said it is lovely to see the HPV Catch-Up programme named after Laura. “It is so important that this vaccine will be available free of charge and easily accessed for those who missed out on it in school, I hope this move increases uptake across the country. I would urge anyone who has any question about HPV vaccines to get your information from trusted sources like the HSE and the WHO. Increasing uptake of the HPV vaccine will protect women and stop them getting cervical cancer.”