Catherine Conlon: We won't eradicate cervical cancer without addressing anti-vax movement

Vaccine hesitancy has grown around the world post-pandemic, and childhood vaccination uptake shows that

Ireland plans to ‘eliminate’ cervical cancer by 2040 according to new targets announced by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly this week.

Elimination means fewer than four cases per 100,000 women and require a 10% increase in vaccination rates for girls up to age 15 from the current 80% to 90% by 2030; along with cervical screening coverage by CervicalCheck at or above 73%; and the number of women receiving treatment within the first year of diagnosis at or above 97%.