More schoolgirls to get free cancer vaccine

Around 300 schoolgirls are to be given the cervical cancer vaccination free of charge, it emerged today.

A team of doctors in north County Dublin have agreed to administer the shot - bought by a consortium of businessmen – for no cost.

The initiative, led by Fine Gael TD Dr James Reilly, will take place on Saturday at centres in Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush, and Lusk.

Dr Reilly said local schools and parents across the area have also backed the life-saving scheme.

“This is a very important vaccine that can prevent cervical cancer,” said Dr Reilly, a Lusk GP.

“This cancer caused 70-80 deaths per year and many more suffer disability and infertility as a result of it.”

There is an estimated 28,000 schoolgirls who could be receiving the vaccination, which is available in 13 European countries and Northern Ireland - just over an hour’s drive from north Dublin.

But Government plans to roll out the vaccine across the country were dropped in budget cuts.

Since Christmas Dr Reilly has been working on a way to bring the vaccine to his constituency.

He and four local businessmen, who do not want to be named, bought the shots and almost 25 doctors in the area have offered to give their time to administer it.

Forms and information packs will be distributed through primary schools and Stacks pharmacy in Skerries. Any parent with a 12-year-old daughter in sixth class can then take their child to one of four venues.

Dr Reilly said he was trying to provide protection to young schools against cervical cancer.

“We have a vaccine against cancer, I never thought I would see it, and I can’t believe we are not using it,” he continued.

“It is a fact that if we had this around the country 52 lives would be saved and 11 cancers could be prevented.

“One thing that bothers me as a doctor is that we are assessing the price of everything and we are forgetting about value.

“I have one patient, a young woman in her 20s, who last year lost her womb because of cervical cancer. It was most distressing.

“In Cork I know of another woman with a young family who is terminally ill.

“And one parent is taking her daughter next week because she had cervical cancer before.

“These are real people and we have to remember them.”

The vaccine will be administered next Saturday at Balbriggan for Balrothery and Balscadden; Skerries for Milverton, Loughshinny; Rush; and Lusk, Corduff, and Hedgestown. Follow up shots are given in four weeks and five months.

Dr Reilly hopes to expand the service to the Swords, Donabate and more rural areas of the county later in the year.

“The fact that the local community funded it and 19 schools, parents associations, teachers, parents, doctors, nurses, parents and 300 children have indicated their demand for this vaccine should send a loud message to the Minister and this Government and the Minister should take up the baton and continue this programme throughout the country,” added Dr Reilly.

“This vaccine will save lives and money.”

Anyone with any queries should contact their daughter’s school or ring 01-6183749.