The majority of parents have given their daughters permission to be vaccinated against cervical cancer.

In total, 85 per cent of mothers and fathers have so far given the go-ahead to their children, the Irish Independent reports.

"Girls in several secondary schools yesterday became the first of 1,500 to receive the vaccine this term, but the majority will have to wait until September," the publication noted.

Parents are sent information packs before the vaccine is administered and have the right to refuse the jab.

It is expected that around 30,000 first year pupils will be vaccinated later this year.

According to the Health Service Executive, girls need to receive three jabs in total and the injections do not rule out the need for future screening.

Figures from Cancer Research UK show that cervical cancer mortality rates for women aged between 20 and 44 in Ireland have been rising since the early 1980s.

Written by Donal Walsh

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