U-turn as 30,000 schoolgirls to get cervical cancer jab

UP TO 30,000 schoolgirls will be vaccinated free of charge against cervical cancer later this year following a dramatic reversal of Government policy.

Yesterday Health Minister Mary Harney said the vaccination programme was now possible because drug companies had agreed to lower their prices for the vaccine against a backdrop of changed market conditions.

Ms Harney said the cost of the programme, including vaccine and administration costs, was originally €16 million but this had been “slashed substantially” to €3m.