Greens abandon basic principle in disgraceful decision on cervical vaccine

WHAT was really infuriating about the Government’s decision not to provide the anti-cervical cancer vaccination for young girls — at a saving of a few million euro — was that it came after it was reported that ministers had bowed to construction industry lobbying regarding the costing of State-funded projects: this lost the taxpayer €150 million.

The pathetic argument that screening for cervical cancer was an acceptable stop-gap alternative to vaccination contradicts the well-established rule in medical and many other matters that prevention is far better than cure.

The position of the Government on this matter is disgraceful.