“The World Health Organisation’s global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer proposes a vision of a world where cervical cancer is eliminated as a public health problem,” said Dr Brink.
“We know that most cervical cancers are caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and that the widespread use of this vaccine across the world could help eliminate cervical cancer.
“The HPV vaccine therefore helps to prevent cancer by protecting against infection with HPV. It is offered to all children in school years eight and nine in the Bailiwick and it is important to get both doses of the vaccine to get maximum protection.”
Pictured: Dr Nicola Brink, Director of Public Health, said the findings of a national study underlined how important it is for children to be vaccinated against HPV in the effort to eliminate cervical cancer.
The vaccine is offered to schoolchildren aged 12 to 14. It helps protect against all cancers caused by HPV as well as against genital warts.
“HPV vaccine has been offered, free of charge, to girls in Guernsey since 2008,” said Immunisation Lead for School Nurses, Karen Belton.
“The aim is to protect them from developing cervical cancer and other HPV-related cancers in years to come. In 2019, the Committee for Health & Social Care extended this vaccination programme to boys to offer them similar protection against HPV-related cancers in later life.
“The uptake of HPV vaccine locally is excellent with over 90% of the eligible population being fully vaccinated.”
The immunisation programme was introduced in Guernsey when a deal was struck between the Treasury and the Health Committee of the time – then led by Deputies Lyndon Trott and Peter Roffey respectively – to use an unexpected budget surplus to invest in the vaccine at a time when public services generally were under financial pressure because of the introduction of the zero-10 company tax regime.
In addition to the vaccine offered to schoolchildren, regular screening for cervical cancer is offered between the ages of 25 and 64.