Just half of teenage girls in Ireland received the HPV vaccine last year, with experts warning that declining the jab could leave girls at risk of developing cervical cancer later in life.

Fears over the safety of the Gardasil vaccine have led to a 15% drop in the number of teenagers who opted to have it, leaving the uptake rate at 50% - significantly lower than the target of 80%. The vaccine is recommended by the World Health Organisation, the International Federation of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists the National Immunisation Advisory Committee and claims that it is linked with chronic fatigue syndrome or other conditions have been disproven. Now senior medical professionals are urging parents to ensure their daughters receive two doses of the vaccine before they turn 15. The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine protects against two types of viruses, HPV 16 and 18, which cause 70% of cervical cancers, and has been offered to all girls in first year in second level schools since 2010. It is offered to this age group because the response to the vaccine is best at this age. Speaking to the Irish Independent, Prof Mary Horgan, a consultant in infectious diseases said:

"The clinical evidence about the safety and effectiveness of this vaccine was so strong when it was initially developed that I didn't wait for it to become part of the national immunisation programme and went ahead and had my 13-year-old daughter vaccinated. "That is how strongly I feel about it. Parents should feel fully assured that the vaccine is very safe and effective."

Each year in Ireland, over 6,500 women need hospital treatment for pre cancer of the cervix, 300 women get cervical cancer, and 90 women die from it. Cervical Cancer is caused by HPV. HPV vaccine protects against seven out of 10 cervical cancers. For more information on the HPV vaccine see the HSE website.