Girls to get vaccine

CASEY’S secondary school girls are set to receive the cervical cancer (HPV) vaccine within a few months.
The announcement comes after Casey councillors voted unanimously at Tuesday night’s council meeting to approve the vaccine program.
Current year seven, 10, 11 and 12 female students will receive the vaccine this year with year eight and nine students set to be immunised in 2008.
All year seven girls will also be vaccinated from next year. The vaccine is administered in three doses over a six-month period.
However, the program will be compressed this year to make sure year 11 and 12 students receive their final doses before leaving school.
Both of Casey’s female councillors spoke strongly about the need for the program to be introduced.
Cr Lorraine Wreford said it was very important issue for the community and it was wonderful that female students would be receiving the vaccine. Cr Janet Halsall agreed and said the vaccination was an important measure in stopping a disease that appears from no-where and kills.
Local doctors will be supplied with the vaccine in late 2007 when they will commence the 18 to 26-year-old female catch-up program.
The Federal Government will provide Casey with $150,000 to implement the program for school students.