Teenage girls who have not received an HPV jab against cervical cancer are being urged by NHS Forth Valley to take up the offer and get in touch.
Already 4,000 injections have been given to girls across the area. But health professionals believe there are still a large number of young women under the age of l9 who have not come forward. These are likely to be youngsters who have already left school.
Maureen Cornforth who leads the NHS Forth Valley HPV immunisation programme said: "The publicity surrounding Jade Goody has already led to a marked increase in the number of girls taking up the offer of an HPV injection and has raised awareness of the importance of cervical cancer screening. HPV Types l6 and l8 are together responsible for over 70% of cervical cancers. This is what the jab is protecting against."
It is believed that hundreds of girls in Forth Valley who are eligible for the injection still have not been vaccinated. Those who will be under l9 on September lst 2009 should either contact their GP or Maureen Cornforth on 01786 457257.