The Irish Cancer Society has said the decision by a group of GPs to make cervical cancer vaccinations available free of charge to 300 sixth class girls in north Dublin is a welcome gesture but no substitute for a free nationwide vaccination programme.
A spokeswoman for the society said a national vaccination programme had been recommended and it wants to see the programme put in place.
A nationwide vaccination programme for all 12 year old girls was due to go ahead later this year but in November the Minister for Health Mary Harney announced the plan was being shelved due to budget constraints. The estimated cost was around €10 million.
The vaccine, which is most effective when given before girls become sexually active, guards against the most common, but not all, strains of the HPV virus which causes cervical cancer
As a result it is recommended that vaccination runs hand in hand with a cervical cancer screening programme. CervicalCheck, the national screening programme for women aged 25 to 60 years, commenced last September.
The society said having a national vaccination programme alongside screening would be "the ideal situation".
There are over 200 new cases of cervical cancer diagnosed in Ireland each year and also around 70 deaths from the disease.
The 300 girls in north Dublin being offered the HPV vaccine free of charge by Fine Gael health spokesman Dr James Reilly and other GPs are all 12 years old. They are in sixth class in schools in Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush, Lusk, Loughshinny, Corduff, Hedgestown and Balscadden.
The vaccines, which will be administered next Saturday, were bought by a consortium of four local businessman and will be given free of charge by GPs.
Forms and information packs will be distributed through the 19 schools in the area and one local pharmacy.
Dr Reilly denied the vaccination programme in his area was a political stunt. He said the vaccine will save lives and money.
"The fact that the local community, 19 schools, parents associations, teachers, parents, doctors, nurses, and 300 children have indicated their demand for this vaccine should send a loud message to the Minister and this Government and the Minister should take up the baton and continue this programme throughout the country," he said.
"Ireland has 28,000 girls who should be receiving the vaccination. [The Health Information and Quality Authority] has stated unequivocally that this vaccine would save 52 lives and will prevent 111 cancers annually," he added. "This vaccine is available in 13 European countries and indeed in Northern Ireland, an hour from north Dublin."
A spokesman for Ms Harney said the Government's policy was to prioritise the roll out and take up of the national cervical cancer screening programme. "That is underway at a full year cost of €35 million," he said.
He added that the Minister is actively keeping the issue of a national HPV vaccination programme under review as part of the national cancer control programme.