School's jab ban 'not justified'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/manchester/7634979.stm

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A Roman Catholic school's decision to prevent girls receiving the cervical cancer vaccine on its premises was "disappointing", a health boss said.

Governors at St Monica's High School in Prestwich, Greater Manchester, said they had concerns about the possible side effects of the injections.

The head teacher of the school said he could not comment on the decision.

Dr Peter Elton, the borough's director of public health, said the governors' concerns were "not justified".

The vaccine gives immunity to key strains of the sexually-transmitted Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), responsible for 70% of cervical cancers. Experts believe it could save hundreds of lives in the UK each year.

It is given in a course of three injections over six months and is being offered to all year-eight girls.

Dr Elton said schools were the best places to immunise children because when parents have to make special arrangements uptake was often lower.

Experts believe vaccinating against HPV could save hundreds of lives

"It is very important that we have the maximum number of children vaccinated against HPV, that all girls get vaccinated," he said.

"The way we can get the most done is by having them at school, so we are naturally disappointed when we can't go into a school to vaccinate girls.

"They [the governors] recognise it as a very effective vaccine but they have these other concerns and we think they are not justified."

Governors at St Monica's - which has 1,200 pupils - have sent a letter to parents outlining concerns about possible side effects.

It states: "We do not believe that school is the right place for the three injections to be administered.

"Therefore, governors have taken the decision not to allow the school premises to be used for this programme."

Although some religious groups are opposed to the vaccine because of fears it may encourage promiscuity, the governors make no moral objection to the programme.

In its advice on the HPV vaccine, the Department of Health said it had undergone rigorous safety testing as part of the licensing process.