Make it manditory. Mass programs of vaccinations to children are a win win for all. The child reduces the chance of contracting a deadly virus and the community benefits from not having the loss of a future tax payer. The Surgeon General of Health should be making the decision.

Jim Wills, Brisbane, Australia

Moreover, while the vaccine may only "protects against a few strains" it does protect against strains 16 & 18 which cause 70% of cervical cancers & strains 6 & 11 which cause 90% of condylomata acuminata . Sure, promote abstinence, but maybe parents should promote their own education as to reality

annie, Twin Cities, USA

"The UK rollout will be the first large scale trial" UH. . .not really, we have had this vaccine in the States since 2006 & many individual states have bills pending to make the CANCER VACCINE mandatory (with a parent opt-out) for middle school girls age 12.

annie, Twin Cities, USA

I'm in favour of preventing HPV and possible cervical cancer by promoting the use of the vaccine. However, I think that we (society) have become complacent towards teenage sex. Correct me if I'm wrong, doesn't the law protect CHILDREN under 16? Shouldn't we be educating them to wait?

K Jones, Plymouth, Devon

Condoms actually don't offer protection against HPV, so even if a young woman is practicing responsible, safe sex, she may still be at risk. Therefore offering the vaccine whilst also providing education and advice about condom use is essential.

Lucie, London, UK

Strangely Melanie Reid neglects to mention that the vaccine will only protect against a few strains of the virus or that girls will still need regular smear tests to avoid contracting cervical cancer. No mention of side effects either. Looks like the UK rollout will be the first large scale trial.

Elaine Shaw, wolverhampton, UK

Parents should maintain the right to protect their daughters, from a vaccine with unknown side affects but also from the undesirable affects of sexual activity too young. We should be teaching children to save sex for a secure and loving realtionship in later life.

Sarah, Guildford,

The vaccine won't encourage girls to have sex... but it may make them think unprotected sex is ok. It won't protect against HIV or any of the other nasty diseases out there. Or pregancy for that matter.

Shouldn't we be pushing the argument for condoms?

Rose, scotland,

As so many of us were youngsters in the 60s, I think many mothers must have short memories! When I
was a young lad of 10, I remember my Victorian grandmother, tut tutting, as I examined the family bible complete with births,marriages and deaths recorded from the 1820s. And questioning the maths.

David Vinter, Louth, Lincs., UK.

Oh what a clever article! And to refer to flat-earthers as if there were some kind of connection...

The simple fact remains that many can recall the thalidamide wonder drug in its early days. And the outcome.

It obviously makes parents suspicious in an age where drugs trials are a joke.

Mike Poulsen, Reading, Berkshire

This issue has nothing to do with morality and everything to do with health. Unless you are going to advocate that every young woman should remain celibate for life, there is immense value to this vaccine. The only 'message' the vaccine gives is that parents care about their children's wellbeing

Sophie, Liverpool,

The vaccine should be allowed to girls, but there better have been
lots research and safety checks on the HPV vaccine! I do not agree with forcing the children's parents to allow the vaccine by force. In that case I would like to see very high ranking official's children having the vaccine too.

Roberto, Toronto, Canada

All well and good but don't forget good old fashioned morality based advice !!!!!

Ian Payne, WALSALL,

BCG isn't universal any more, my son's school didn't offer it and he was shocked he found out I had it when I was his age (I was shocked he didn't).

Also (I may be wrong) but havn't we been vaccinating teenage girls against German measles for years to protect their as yet un-thought of children?

Mike Robinson, Plymouth, UK

this information is a very good awakening to parents and even young adults.

bea, los baños, philippines

Guilty of neglect ,perhaps so,but to quote Melanie from a previous article "idealised,romantasised,unrealistic maternal standards".
This written to defend the McCanns where the word neglect did not make appearance.As a" cotton wooller "who would vaccinate and protect while an infant-consistency !!

robert everitt, wolverhampton,

It's repressive, selfish and unloving to pretend your daughter isn't ever going to grow up and to encourage the idea, however indirectly or subtly, that a woman having sex somehow deserves to come to harm. The rubella shot is to protect an unborn baby and nobody objects to 10-year-olds having it.

Rachel, London,