The Health Service Executive has reported an increase in HPV vaccination rates, with provisional national uptake levels at 65%.
It said two in every three girls are now protected against most cervical cancers.
At the launch of its latest vaccination campaign, the HSE said the figures represent a 15 percentage point increase in over a year.
Teams are currently in second level schools administering the vaccine to first-year girls.
In March, the HSE reported a 62% national uptake.
During the 2016/2017 period, national vaccination uptake had dropped to 51%.
The HPV vaccine protects girls from developing 70% of cervical cancers when they grow up.
It is administered at the age of 12 to 13 years and is delivered through the HSE school’s programme.
Around 300 Irish women develop cervical cancer each year and 90 die from the cancer.
The World Health Organization has said that the vaccine is very safe.
Today, the WHO noted the rise in uptake in Ireland and Denmark, after a sharp downfall, which had been linked to concerns expressed by some campaign groups here and abroad about the vaccine.
Minister for Health Simon Harris said he plans to extend the HPV vaccination to boys, as a priority, subject to a favourable recommendation from the Health Information and Quality Authority.
A HIQA public consultation on the issue closed last Friday and the authority is expected to make its recommendation to the minister later this year.
