Next wave of cervical cancer jab

Screening can check for early cell changes that suggest cancer

The third wave of vaccinations against cervical cancer is taking place for young women in Norfolk.

NHS Norfolk is holding immunisation clinics for 17 and 18-year-olds who missed the injection scheme which took place at schools and colleges.

Letters have been sent asking them to make an appointment with immunisation teams.

The clinics will be held in Connexions Centres in Norwich, Thetford, King's Lynn, North Walsham, and Dereham.

Chief nurse and director of women and children's commissioning for NHS Norfolk, Maureen Carson, said it did not matter whether the young women were sexually active or not.

Protects girls

"The HPV vaccine is administered in three doses over a period of six months and it protects girls against the two types of the HPV virus which cause more than 70% of cervical cancers," she said.

"Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer effecting woman worldwide, with around 1,000 women dying of the disease every year in the UK."

Since the campaign began in September, hundreds of girls in Norfolk have been vaccinated against HPV.

The clinics will be held from 6 to 31 January.