A Roman Catholic school has defended its decision not to allow girls from receiving a cervical cancer vaccination on school premises. The vaccination, which immunises against the most common form of cervical cancer, the sexually transmitted Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), is given to all year-eight girls as a course of three injections over a period of six months. It is unpopular with some critics who fear it promotes promiscuity.
Monsignor John Allen, governor of St Monica’s RC High School in Bury, Greater Manchester, said the decision was not a moral one but rather reflected their concerns over the possible side effects of the vaccination.
"This is not a moral judgment on the vaccination. It's a question of where this vaccination should be given and how it should be given,” he said.
The school’s governors have written a letter to parents informing them of their medical concerns.
The letter states: "We do not believe that school is the right place for the three injections to be administered. Therefore, governors have taken the decision not to allow the school premises to be used for this programme."
He added, "This matter is primarily a public health issue, not a school issue. That's the reason we came to the decision as governors."
Dr Peter Elton, Bury’s director of public health, was quoted by the BBC as saying that the school’s concerns were “not justified” and warning that girls would be less likely to take the vaccination if they were left to make alternative arrangements outside of the school.
“The way we can get the most done is by having them at school, so we are naturally disappointed when we can’t go into a school to vaccinate girls,” he was quoted by the BBC as saying.
“They [the governors] recognise it as a very effective vaccine but they have these other concerns and we think they are not justified.”
The Catholic Education Service confirmed that the vaccination programme does not contradict Catholic teaching.St. Monica's Governors took great care in considering whether the vaccination should be given on the school premises. They recognize the seriousness of this cancer, but they unanimously came to the conclusion that vaccination against it is a personal matter for parents to decide in consultation with their family doctor and their children.
The Governors also believe that such injections should be given in a sterile clinical setting with the appropriate professional medical personnel at hand should they be needed. This is not an issue for schools, but rather a matter of public health. Preventative inoculations are not now given in schools for any illness.
Moral considerations such as those reported in the Manchester Evening News for 24th September did not form any part of the Governors' decision.
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(Source: CT)