Girls begin anti cancer program

THE Shire of Yarra Ranges has begun the process of vaccinating up to 4600 young females as part of the National Cervical Cancer Vaccination Program.
The shire’s immunisation team will visit 22 secondary schools from throughout the region, starting from term two this year and running for another six to eight terms.
This year, girls in years, seven, 10, 11 and 12 will be offered the Gardasil vaccine to protect them against the human papilloma virus which has been deemed to be the primary cause of cervical cancer.
Students currently in years eight and nine will be offered the vaccine in 2008.
Shire of Yarra Ranges deputy mayor Samantha Dunn said parents of female secondary school students would receive information about the Commonwealth-funded program from their school.
“Parents will need to give their consent for their daughter to be immunised under the program,” Cr Dunn noted.
“Health promotion provided through the school system and allied medical services will continue to be an important means of educating on sexual issues and the need to take appropriate protective measures.”