Cervical cancer vaccination numbers exceed goal

The number of girls getting a vaccine to help fight one of the most lethal forms of cancer in Ireland is exceeding official expectations.

New HSE figures show that 86% of all first-year secondary school girls were given the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine in the 2011/12 academic year.

The rate, which equates to 44,000 pupils, is far above the 80% target for the period, and up 4% on the previous 12 months.