Leitrim students urged to get free vaccine against prevalent STD
Leitrim students will be able to get a free HPV victim on the 21st of August
Leitrim students are being urged to get a free HPV vaccination on offer this August in Carrick-on-Shannon.
The HSE is offering students in 5th and 6th year the opportunity to get the highly affective single dose vaccine for free through the School Immunisation Programme.
The HPV vaccine is usually handed out to students in their first year of school, but those who did not receive the jab in their first year of school.
HPV is an extremely common sexually transmitted disease in Ireland, with around 80% of people contracting it in their lifetime, according to the Marie Keating Foundation, an Irish cancer support charity.
When untreated, the disease can increase the risk of a person contracting various cancers, including cervical, oropharynx, anus, vagina, vulva and penis cancers.
The jab will be handed out at the Carrick Health Centre on Leitrim road on August 21st. There will also be centres handed out to students on 5th and 19th of June at Markievicz House, Barrack Street, Sligo and the 14th of August in Markievicz House, Barrack Street.
Students aged 16 and over can complete their own consent form. Parents/guardians will be asked to provide consent for young people aged 15 years and under. Further information on HPV is available at www.immunisation.ie
Dr Cathriona Walsh, HSE School Immunisation Lead, said, “We encourage all eligible students to take this opportunity to protect themselves against HPV-related cancers … Each year in Ireland, about 640 people are diagnosed with an HPV-associated cancer. The HPV vaccine works and is recommended for both males and females and is available free of charge.”