Tasmanian Government Press Releases
Dr Roscoe Taylor
Director of Public Health
Friday, 10 December 2010
Director of Public Health Dr Roscoe Taylor today encouraged all teenage girls in Tasmania to be vaccinated against the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) which causes cervical cancer.
Dr Taylor announced that the Department of Health and Human Services and local councils are offering free Gardasil immunisation clinics this month to increase protection against cervical cancer, with the first clinics commencing in Glenorchy and West Tamar next Monday.
“Each year, more than 200 women in Australia die from cervical cancer,” Dr Taylor said.
“Gardasil is most effective when it is given to girls before they become sexually active because HPV is passed from person to person through close sexual contact.”
Dr Taylor said Tasmania needed to improve on the 54% of eligible girls who were immunised through the school program in 2009.
“The vaccine course is three injections each given a few months apart,” he said.
“It is important that girls receive all three doses, to be best-protected.
“The clinics are open to all girls aged 12-16 years who have missed doses through the school program or have not yet received any doses.
“Gardasil is usually only available to 12-13 year old girls through schools.”
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