Cancer screening programme remains priority

Updated: 22:30, Sunday, 15 February 2009

Professor Tom Keane has said cervical cancer screening is more important than a vaccination programme for young girls.

1 of 2Prof Tom Keane - Screening far more important
Prof Tom Keane - Screening far more important
2 of 2Vaccine - Programme cancelled
Vaccine - Programme cancelled

The head of the National Cancer Control programme has said screening for cervical cancer is more important than the vaccination programme for young girls, that was cancelled by the Minister for Health last November.

Professor Tom Keane said the vaccination programme will eventually be introduced.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio, Prof Keane insisted that screening is the priority as more women already have a cancer risk due to exposure to the cancer causing virus.

The cervical vaccination programme was to be introduced last September for girls aged 12 at a cost of €10 million per annum.

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