Cervical cancer: ‘If you want to give medical advice on vaccinations, become a doctor’

Cervical cancer is the second most common cause of death from cancer for young Irish women, despite an effective screening programme and free vaccine. Why has there been such a dramatic fall in the number of girls getting vaccinated? asks Jessica Casey.

Each year, 300 women in Ireland are diagnosed with cervical cancer. One in three loses their life as a result of the disease.

More than 6,500 women annually need hospital treatment for a precancerous form of the disease. And despite a comprehensive screening programme, cervical cancer is still the second most common cause of death due to cancer for young Irish women.