A vaccine that protects girls against cervical cancer in later life had an overall uptake of 82 per cent last year, ahead of the 80 per cent target, the HSE said today.
The executive began a vaccination programme against the human papilloma virus (HPV) in May 2010 for girls in first and second year at school.
The virus is common, and there are more than 100 types, some of which can cause changes in the neck of the womb that may develop into cervical cancer.
About 250 women get cervical cancer each year in Ireland, and about 80 women die from it.
The vaccination programme was first rolled out in a small number of schools and then nationally in September 2010. It included girls attending special schools and those who are home schooled. The vaccine administered - Gardasil – is free of charge.
Three doses of the vaccine, scheduled by date of first administered dose, two-month follow-up and six-month follow-up are administered, and the programme aimed to achieve 80 per cent uptake.
The HSE said the programme had been “well received” with an uptake rate of 82 per cent in its first year.
Dr Kevin Kelleher, assistant national director - health protection, said 97 per cent of girls who received a first dose of the vaccine completed the three-dose schedule.
These were “excellent” figures for the first year and were equal to or greater than those achieved in the first year of programmes in other countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia. He said the figures were a “great credit” to the vaccination teams.
Parents were sent information packs and consent forms via the school in advance of their children’s vaccination. The HSE sent information packs and consent forms via the school for completion by parents or guardians prior to the girls' vaccinations.
The HPV vaccination programme for first-year girls continued from September 2011, and there is a catch-up programme for all sixth-year girls that will continue for the next three years.
Some 70 per cent of invasive cervical cancers worldwide are attributed to certain strains (types 16 and 18) of HPV and the vaccine protects against these.
Other strains of HPV include the ones that cause common warts. Most people will get a HPV infection during their lifetime, but the majority do not need treatment.