Only half of teen girls get the cancer vaccine

Only half of the teenage girls entitled to receive a vaccine that prevents cervical cancer started getting the jab last year.

The National Immunisation Advisory Committee says it is “gravely concerned”. Vaccination rates are now far below the recommended 80% target.

Over the last two years, there has been a 15% fall in the uptake of the vaccine, which protects against two types of viruses — HPV 16 and 18. These are the cause of 70% of cervical cancers.