DONEGAL Action for
Cancer Care (DACC) have described their "shock and
sadness" following the Government's u-turn on the
cervical cancer vaccine for young women.
The Department of Health on Tuesday reversed its
decision to offer the life-saving HPV vaccine to
26,000 12 year olds next September, because of the
State's mounting financial crisis.
DACC last night said the row-back did not make
"economic or moral sense".
"In Minister Harney's own words 'the cervical
screening program has the potential to cut mortality
from cervical cancer by up to 90%'," said DACC
chairwoman Betty Holmes.
She referred to an official report that found the
vaccine would be "cost-effective,
weighing up the cost of administering the vaccine
versus its effectiveness in preventing cervical
cancer".
"We are asking what price the Government is putting
on saving lives. This does not make economic or
moral sense.
"We are calling on our Government to reconsider this
and are asking our politicians to
support this call," added Ms Holmes. |
