Start date call for cancer vaccine

ENNIS town councillor Mary Howard is calling on the Minister for Health Mary Harney to clarify the start date for the cervical cancer vaccination programme.

She pointed out that cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of early mortality among Irish women under 44 years of age, with more than 90 lives lost to disease every year.
“The roll-out of this vaccine has been clouded in uncertainty.
“Firstly, the planned roll-out was cancelled in 2008, with Minister Harney citing budgetary constraints as the reason for her decision.
“Two years later, Minister Harney made a welcome u-turn, promising that the programme would start before June this year.
“The vaccine, to be given only with parental consent, will be administered in three injections over six months and this week we hear that even if the programme goes ahead before the summer break that girls will be on their summer holidays when they need their second jab,” Councillor Howard commented.
She added that, in her opinion, Minister Harney should have resolved any logistical issues before now.
“She has had two years to get this right. Parents are confused as to whether or not their daughters are entitled to get this vaccine, or if they get the first jab, when do they receive the remainder.
“Furthermore, doctors working in the health ­service have warned the minister on numerous occasions that they will not be able to cope with the additional workload as a result of the ban on recruitment in the sector,” the councillor remarked.
She said that this “vital life-saving programme” has been delayed long enough.
“It is time now for Minister Harney to clarify the start date for the programme and how long it will take to complete the roll-out.
“When a similar programme was introduced in Scotland it took just six months to complete.
“This vital life-saving programme has been delayed long enough and it is time to end the ­uncertainty,” she added.