Cervical cancer vaccinations halted

Cervical cancer vaccinations for girls at two North Somerset schools were halted after the death of a girl in the Midlands.

Natalie Morton, aged 14, died soon after being given an inoculation against HPV – a virus which causes cervical cancer – at a school in Coventry.

Results from a preliminary post mortem examination said that a "rare and grave" underlying medical condition was likely to have caused her death, according to the Department of Health, although a link with the injection was not entirely ruled out.

But after a second girl, aged 15, at the same school also became cold, weak and dizzy less than an hour after being given the vaccine, the Department of Health ordered all primary care trusts (PCTs) nationwide to check if they had any vaccines from the same batch of the HPV1 Cervarix jab.

All vaccines from the batch in question have been quarantined and recalled.

Danielle Delaney, from NHS North Somerset, said: "The programme was halted throughout North Somerset purely while we checked stocks to make sure they were not from the same batch, at the request of the manufacturer.

"We can confirm the ones being used in North Somerset are not from the same batch."

Girls at Gordano School were due to be given the jab on Tuesday but the vaccination programme was suspended, with a statement on the school website explaining the move was made until health staff had received further guidance on the matter.

Worle School also delayed its jabs but vaccinations were due to resume today.

Head teacher Trevor Bailey said: "The health authority wanted 24 hours to reflect before they allowed us to go ahead.

"We wrote to all parents to let them know we were postponing while our nurse took advice from the PCT."

The HPV vaccination programme is planned for other North Somerset schools in the coming weeks but the dates may change from those announced.

It is being offered to all girls from year eight to 13.

Priory Community School is due to have the jab on October 14 and St Katharine's School in Pill is to have it on October 15.

Pupils at Backwell School received the jab last week and Wyvern School in Weston has also had a first dose with more to be administered in November.

Churchill School pupils also had their first dose and they will receive the second dose next week.

Broadoak School in Weston said it did not wish to comment on the matter.