School refuses 'cancer vaccine'

[TriWooOx]

Quote:A Roman Catholic school has banned its pupils from receiving the new cervical cancer vaccine on its premises.

Governors at St Monica's High School in Prestwich, Greater Manchester, believe the school is "not the right place" to administer the injections.

The government-sponsored vaccinations prevent the sexually-transmitted Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), which prevents 70% of cervical cancers.

Schools Secretary Ed Balls said schools had a "responsibility" on health.

The vaccine is given in three injections over six months and is being offered to all female year-eight pupils.

Experts believe vaccinating against HPV could save hundreds of lives in the UK each year.

The programme has already started in some parts of the country, including Oldham, and pupils in Bury are expected to begin vaccinations over the next few weeks.

Advice from the Roman Catholic Church says there is nothing wrong with allowing the cervical cancer vaccinations to be given.

But governors at St Monica's - which has 1,200 pupils - have sent a letter to parents outlining their concerns about the vaccine.

In it, they question the effectiveness of the injections and possible side effects.

The letter says a number of the school's pupils who took part in a pilot study were subsequently off school suffering from nausea, joint pain, headaches and high fevers.

Schools 'responsibility'

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."

The school's head teacher Frank McCarron said he could not comment on the governors' decision.

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.

A spokesman for the Diocese of Salford said: "The diocese and Catholic schools board do not have a moral objection, but it is up to individual schools to decide whether to allow the vaccinations to be carried out in school."

Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester, Mr Balls said the vaccine would help hundreds of children across the UK.

Mr Balls said: "In general the vast majority of schools will be delivering these vaccinations and they will be doing so to save lives.

"I think schools should be at the centre of their community and I don't think schools walking away from their responsibility for children's health is the way to go."

The Department of Health said the HPV vaccine had undergone rigorous safety testing as part of the licensing process.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manch...633761.stm

[TriWooOx]

School's jab ban 'not justified'

Quote: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.

"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.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manch...634979.stm