 The HPV virus can cause cancer |
One life a year could be saved by vaccinating girls in Guernsey against a sexually transmitted virus which causes cervical cancer, health bosses say. The Health Department has been given an additional �800,000 to fund an immunisation programme for 12 and 13-year-old girls.
It was initially hoped the ambitious immunisation programme could have targeted boys of the same age.
However, Health Minister Peter Roffey said there was insufficient funding.
The vaccine, which protects against the human papilloma virus (HPV), will be given by school nurses in three injections over a six-month period.
The cost of each course is about �240.
The additional money for health had been made possible by exceptional activity in the island's property market, the treasury said.
A health spokesman told BBC News the vaccines will save lives and the extra money may also help fund a new colo-rectal service.
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