A Roman Catholic school is refusing to allow 12 and 13-year-old girls to be immunised against cervical cancer on its premises.

The move, by St Monica’s High School in Prestwich, was condemned as irresponsible by the Department for Health, which began its programme to immunise girls against the sexually-transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV) this month.

In a letter to parents, the school says that the vaccine has been proved neither safe nor effective, that girls who took part in a pilot programme last year suffered side-effects and that the vaccine could “interfere with the body’s natural defences”. It concluded: “We do not believe that school is the right place for the three injections to be administered.”

The vaccination programme has been approved by the Catholic Education Service and medical evidence indicates that it could save the lives of an estimated 400 women each year in England. Trials involving more than 100,000 girls indicate that the overall rates of adverse reactions were low — equivalent to 2.6 cases per 100,000 doses administered — with no associated serious lasting effects.

A Department of Health spokesman said that St Monica’s was the only school it knew of that had rejected the vaccine. He added that “in the absence of any scientific evidence that points to safety concerns, it would be irresponsible to raise inappropriate fears over HPV vaccine safety”.

Ed Balls, the Schools Minister, told BBC Radio Manchester: “I don’t think schools walking away from their responsibility for children’s health is the way to go.” Peter Elton, director of public health for Bury, said that the school’s position was disturbing and described its letter as “unbalanced”.

“We know this will reduce the number of girls who take up the vaccines and will put them at higher risk in later life of eventually contracting cervical cancer,” he said.

The primary care trust, he said, would be looking at the most effective way of offering vaccination clinics and support outside the school.

Frank McCarron, head teacher of St Monica’s, said that he could not comment, but Monsignor John Allen, a parish priest and governor at the school, said: “This is not a moral judgment on the vaccination. It’s a question of where this vaccination should be given and how it should be given. This matter is primarily a public health issue, not a school issue. That’s the reason we came to the decision as governors. We’re saying it’s such an important issue that parents should make that decision in consultation with their family doctor. The school is not to be used for this.”

Last year Monsignor Allen said that he felt pupils were being used as guinea pigs and suggested that the injection might encourage girls to become sexually active. “Morally it seems to be a sticking-plaster response. Parents must consider the knock-on effect of encouraging sexual promiscuity. Instead of taking it for granted that teenagers will engage in sexual activity, we can offer a vision of a full life keeping yourself for a lifelong partnership in marriage.”

The vaccine, Cervarix, offers protection against two strains of HPV, which cause 70 per cent of cervical cancers. Each year more than 1,000 women across the UK die from the disease.

Under the HPV programme, which will cost the Government £100 million annually, girls in year eight (aged 12 or 13) are offered three jabs over a six month period. Vaccination is not compulsory and parents are sent an explaining letter and consent form.

A catch-up scheme to vaccinate girls aged 14 to 18 will begin in 2009.

The number of measles cases will pass 1,000 for the first time in decades because vaccination rates for the MMR jab, which guards against measles, mumps and rubella, have stalled.

One in four children in England is not getting the suggested two doses. Parents’ refusal to have their children inoculated, because of fears of a link to bowel disorder and autism, is thought to be a key factor behind the resurgence of measles, which can be life-threatening. Across the country, 85 per cent of two-year-olds had the first MMR jab in the past year. For the “herd immunity” needed to all but eradicate measles, 95 per cent must be treated. The government has ordered catch-up programmes.

Saving lives

— 2,700 cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed every year in Britain

— This is 2.2 per cent of women’s cancer cases; it is the second most common cancer in women under 35

— About 4.4 million women are invited for cervical screening in England each year

— Cervical screening is estimated to save 5,000 lives a year

— Of women with cervical cancer, 68 per cent survive beyond the first five years. About 66 per cent survive longer than ten years

Source: Cancer Research

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