THE controversial injection which helps protect girls in Wiltshire from cervical cancer has got off to an excellent start.

Almost 80 per cent of 12 to 13-year-old girls in the county have already had their first human papilloma virus (HPV) jab since the vaccination campaign began to be delivered through schools in September.

Elizabeth Lee, consultant in public health in Wiltshire, said: “We have had an excellent start to the HPV programme in Wiltshire.

“We need to do more to prevent cervical cancer rather than just treat it, which is why we want to vaccinate girls before they become sexually active.”

Human papilloma virus is a sexually transmitted virus that causes 99 per cent of invasive cervical cancer in women.

In the UK around 3,000 women a year are diagnosed with cervical cancer, of which more than 1,000 will die from the disease.

The HPV vaccine protects against the viruses responsible for about 70 per cent of cases.

Girls aged 17 to 18 years will be offered the vaccine this academic year, with a catch-up campaign planned over the next three years for all girls aged under 19 years.

The programme consists of three jabs in the upper arm over a six-month period. There are very few side effects.

For more information visit www.nhs.uk/hpv.