HEALTH officers in the region have reported a “very high” take-up rate for a vaccine to protect girls from cervical cancer later in life.

More than 90 per cent of parents on Teesside and in Hartlepool have backed the national vaccination programme.

NHS bosses in County Durham and Darlington have also reported a “very high” approval rate from parents.

School nurses in North Yorkshire have also been immunising large numbers of 12 and 13-year-olds.

Thousands of girls across the region are being given a course of three injections, which should protect them from a virus which causes nearly all cervical cancers.

Human papilloma virus, or HPV, can be contracted through intimate contact or sexual activity. Cervical cancer kills about 1,000 women in the UK each year.

Carol McArdle, a specialist nurse in charge of the HPV immunisation programme across the four Teesside primary care trust areas, said: “The programme is going very well. We have got a good system in place and we are working closely with the schools.”

Schools were sent a Department of Health information pack during the summer and thousands of parents received a letter, a consent form and an information leaflet.

“The immunisation is usually done in the morning by a team of school nursse. The largest number we have done in one go is about 150,” said Mrs McArdle.

“We are getting signed consent from more than 90 per cent of parents,” she added.

A number of patients have expressed concerns about the the vaccine, but Mrs McArdle said it has been around for seven years and is widely used in Europe.

Ken Ross, immunisation coordinator for County Durham and Darlington, said the programme was just getting under way and the first youngsters were vaccinated this week.

About 3,300 year eight girls will be immunised in County Durham and Darlington.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust said: “Year eight girls in more than 30 schools have received the first of their jabs.”