Uptake rates for the first year of the HPV vaccination programme have been published showing that the programme has been very well received with an uptake rate of 82% in its first year. The HSE wishes to thank the Department of Education, schools management and staff, girls and their parents for their participation in this successful programme.

These are excellent figures for the first year of the programme and are equal to or greater than those achieved in the first year of programmes in other countries such as the UK and Australia and are a great credit to the staff of the vaccination teams. 

In 2010/2011 the programme targeted almost 60,000 schoolgirls in first and second year of second level schools as well as those attending special schools or home schooled.

The vaccination programme involved the administration of 3 doses of HPV vaccine scheduled at 0, 2 and 6 months.

The programme aimed to achieve 80% uptake for the completed course of 3 doses of vaccine and has achieved this in the first year.

From September 2011 the routine HPV vaccination programme for first year girls continues and in addition there is a catch up programme for all sixth year girls which will continue for the next three years.

Further information abut the vaccine and the vaccination programme is available at www.hpv.ie and www.immunisation.ie/en/HPVProgramme/