Eastbourne and Willingdon MP Caroline Ansell is urging girls to receive the HPV vaccination that protects them against 80% of cervical cancer cases after it emerged East Sussex jab rates are 10% less than the UK average.
Caroline heard of the concerning figures during a Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust event in Westminster last week.
The UK average of the vaccination is 68.1% but in the county it is only 58.3%.
“I am very concerned that more than a third of young girls in East Sussex are not getting this effective and safe vaccine that will greatly protect them from cervical cancer and I will be writing to the local immunisation team to understand the issues,” said Caroline.
"East Sussex is broadly in line with the national picture in terms of screening tests – and for younger people actually higher but again a round third of women do not have a smear test.
“Cervical cancer is very treatable if caught early, so I do urge all women to go and have a smear test when called forward,” Caroline added.
A report by Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust found only 17% professionals involved in the disease think enough is currently being done to eliminate cervical cancer in the UK.
Only 20% think enough is being done to ensure high levels of HPV vaccine uptake, and just 16% believe that enough is being done to support cervical screening uptake.
