Immediate plan needed for HPV Vaccines – Conway
2nd April 2021 - Fine Gael Press Office
An immediate plan to administer HPV vaccine to students is urgently required, Fine Gael Senator Martin Conway has said.
“The Minister for Health with the Health Service Executive need to implement an action plan to catch up on the backlog of students waiting on HPV vaccines. They also need to ensure the 2021 cohort of students receive the vaccine.
“The HPV vaccines programme is in crisis with rates dropping from over 80pc in 2019 to 53pc in 2020. Without immediate action, we will be failing to deal with a preventable cancer,” Senator Conway, who is Fine Gael’s Seanad spokesperson on Health, said.
“The vaccine programme can be managed in a very safe manner. We need a more creative approach to catch up by engaging with our local network of pharmacists & dental practices.
“The Irish Pharmacy Union have publicly stated they are willing to support the HPV Programme and this needs to be actioned.
“I appreciate the Covid 19 vaccine is the top priority. However, I feel through planning and using resources available to us, the HPV vaccine programme can work alongside it.
“As a Clare person, I am acutely aware of the legacy of Laura Brennan, who during her life did amazing work to raise awareness and arrest the trend of vaccine hesitancy. Just over two years ago, Laura passed away from cervical cancer aged just 26.
“In recent weeks, Laura’s family are bravely carrying on her work and have called for the HPV vaccine programme to be reinstated to the current public health agenda. I fully support this.
“We cannot afford to lose this momentum for the programme and ultimately, the HPV vaccine will save lives,” Senator Conway said.
Related news
Rollout of free HRT key women’s health priority in Programme for Government – Boland
The Programme for Government ensures the rollout of free HRT and also commits to increasing the network of menopause clinics…
16th January 2025Dublin Taskforce’s inclusion in Programme for Government a win for capital – Geoghegan
The new programme for government includes a commitment to implement the Dublin City Centre Taskforce recommendations through the Department of…
15th January 2025Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil agree draft Programme for Government
Fine Gael leader Simon Harris and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin today welcomed an agreement to form the next government,…
15th January 2025