Schools drive on with vaccine

SCHOOLS in Oldham will continue to offer the cervical cancer jab despite parental concerns raised following the death of a teenager on Monday.

Fears had been raised after Natalie Morton (14), from Coventry, died after being given the injection.

It was later revealed she died from a tumour in her chest.

All schools in Oldham have been offered the vaccine, which protects girls from cervical cancer, and all have accepted.

Alan Higgins, director of public health, said: “There have been a few parents who expressed concern earlier this week about the vaccine.

“However there have been no further concerns expressed since then.

“Nearly all (95 per cent) of 12 to 13-year-old girls in Oldham had the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in 2008.

“This was well above the national target of 90 per cent.”

Mr Higgins said the HPV immunisation programme would continue as normal.

He said: “We believe there is no reason to suspend HPV immunisation — the programme against cervical cancer continues today.

“England has one of the most successful immunisation programmes in the world and we have great confidence in the safety of them.”