Young people who have yet to receive the HPV vaccine or are eligible to avail of it through a catch-up programme are being appealed to do so.
Dr Lucy Jessop, Director of the National Immunisation Office, said they are "really pleased" to be launching the Laura Brennan HPV catch-up programme today "in memory" of Laura, who died from cervical cancer at the age of 26.
She described how Laura was extremely active in campaigning for the HPV vaccine and that her death highlights how this cancer can affect young women.
Around 300 women get a diagnosis of cervical cancer every year in Ireland and there around 90 deaths from it.
She explained that this catch-up programme is running in conjunction with the regular HPV vaccine programme.
Dr Jessop said it is for females aged 16 to 24 who did not receive a dose previously and boys who were in first year from 2019/20, when the boys programme was launched, and who are over the age of 16.
The programme will be extended to those aged under 16 in the new year.
She said the HPV vaccine programme has been running since 2010 and the uptake has been good the majority of years, at around 80% or more.
"But to try and eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem, we need to get to at least 90%," she said.
Dr Jessop said it is about trying to protect those who did not come forward for whatever reason the last few years and give them another opportunity to get this vaccine now.
She said NIAC has now advised that only one dose of the vaccine is required, compared to at the beginning of the programme, it was three doses and that was then reduced to two.
She said for any information on the HPV vaccine or if people have forgotten if they have had a dose, they can access hpv.ie and by putting in their PPS number, it will outline if someone has yet had one or not.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said that Laura Brennan's familyy have "campaigned tirelessly in the memory of their courageous daughter and have shown commendable commitment and energy in continuing to spread her message in the midst of their own immeasurable grief".
"This programme embodies Laura’s message of vaccine promotion and will encourage and facilitate further uptake of this life-saving intervention. It is by increasing HPV vaccination and screening among our population that we will finally reach our goal of eliminating cervical cancer in Ireland," Mr Donnelly said.
Laura’s parents, Bernie and Larry Brennan, said: "Laura was determined to do everything in her power to encourage people to get the HPV vaccine to protect their health.
"Vaccines save lives and Laura’s hope was that by speaking out, she could prevent others from losing their lives and spare other families the pain of losing a loved one.
"We’re incredibly proud that her campaigning has had such a lasting impact, and it’s comforting to know that many lives will be saved by people availing of the HPV vaccine through the programme named in her memory."
