Girls who have cancer jab must go for smears too

Tuesday, 12 July 2011 1:32 PM

Doctors say many girls who are having the cervical cancer jab don’t realise they have to attend smear tests in the future.

Some girls and their parents mistakenly believe the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination makes future cervical cancer screening unnecessary, according to a new Cancer Research UK funded-study from the University of Oxford.

The HPV vaccination programme, introduced in the UK in 2008, uses HPV vaccine that is effective against the two most common high risk HPV types and offers 70 per cent protection against cervical cancer.

However, vaccinated girls will still need to attend cervical screening in the future to ensure protection against cervical cancer caused by high risk HPV types not included in the vaccine.

Researchers found a lack of clarity amongst both parents and girls about the link between the HPV vaccine and the need for future cervical screening.

In some cases parental consent for their daughters to receive the vaccine was based on the false belief that cervical screening would not be necessary. There was also a profound lack of awareness about cervical screening amongst girls of vaccination age.

Dr Alison Clements said: “For informed decisions about HPV vaccination to be made, the provision of information about the ongoing need to attend cervical screening is imperative.

“Our findings have the potential to improve information and educational materials for parents, eligible girls and health professionals. To ensure the uptake of cervical screening is not adversely affected, future invitations for screening will need to stress the importance of attendance regardless of whether the individual has had the HPV vaccination or not.”

Hazel Nunn, from Cancer Research UK, said: “Cervical screening can prevent around 34 per cent of cervical cancers in women in their 30s, rising to 75 per cent in women in their 50s and 60s. Women should be reminded of the crucial role of screening in the fight against cervical cancer.”

The research was presented at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society of Academic Primary Care.

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