Government urged to restart Laura Brennan HPV vaccine programme following backslide in uptake

The catch-up vaccination programme is named after campaigner Laura Brennan, who died after being diagnosed with cervical cancer. File Picture: RTÉ

The Government has been accused of ignoring its own promise to reintroduce the Laura Brennan HPV catch-up vaccination programme.

Campaigners have raised concerns around a backslide in uptake of the vaccine which can prevent a number of cancers, including cervical and throat cancer, and are urging the coalition to restart what was previously a highly successful catch-up programme.

It comes after People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett last week announced that he will be stepping back from politics as he undergoes treatment for HPV-related throat cancer.

While the programme for government commits to establishing a catch-up scheme named after campaigner Laura Brennan, who died after being diagnosed with cervical cancer, health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has said that "there are competing vaccination priorities" and "demand on resources is high".

The Irish Cancer Society said a robust school vaccination programme is "vital" but, given current rates, it is clear uptake is "not where we need it to be" and an ongoing second opportunity is necessary.

Around 640 people a year will get a HPV-related cancer in Ireland

"Unlike most other cancers, for HPV-related cancers we have a safe and effective vaccine. At present, this is only being offered to first year students in second-level schools. Until December 2023, it was also available to those under the age of 25 who had not been vaccinated at school through the Laura Brennan catch-up programme," said Irish Cancer Society CEO Averil Power.

“The Laura Brennan catch-up programme provided a vital second chance to those who had missed on the free HPV vaccine at school for whatever reason. 

"Every day that passes, people are being denied a vaccine that could save their life."

School jabs

During the 2022/23 school year, 80% of girls and around 77% of boys received the HPV jab. However, this is down since the 2019/20 academic year — when 84.1% of girls and 81.5% of boys took up the vaccine.

The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (Niac) recommended a catch-up programme for young people aged under 25 and 11,000 people availed of the scheme when it last ran.

Green Party leader Roderic O'Gorman said: "There's a clear commitment in the programme for government to extend the Laura Brennan HPV catch-up vaccination programme to anyone under 25 who missed it.

"From the replies that I have received from the Department of Health and the HSE, there is clearly no desire to undertake this catch up campaign.

This will leave young women and men who missed their original HPV vaccine more vulnerable

Mr O'Gorman added: "I don't understand why the department is reluctant to fulfil the clear commitment in the programme for government. They need to press forward and re-run this successful campaign."

Responding to questions from Mr O'Gorman, Ms Carroll MacNeill said her department and the HSE work together to review available options in relation to provision of HPV immunisation in the future. 

However, she said: "It is critical that any resources available are directed to where they can best be utilised to produce maximum clinical impact."

The HSE is this year running a pilot programme on improving HPV vaccination rates among Traveller, Roma, and migrant groups living in Ireland.

Vaccination teams are also currently visiting second-level schools to provide the HPV vaccine.