29 September 2009
Following the death of a 14 year girl who had received a cervical cancer (HPV) vaccine at school in the UK, Jersey’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr Rosemary Geller, has issued the following statement about the vaccine batches which have been used in the Island:
“Since 21 September 2009, 622 doses of the Cervarix HPV vaccine have been given to school girls in Jersey. Of those, 424 girls received the same batch of vaccine that was given to the girl in the UK. This is not unusual since a batch of vaccines will often contain many millions of doses. We take reassurance from the fact that of the girls who have received this batch of vaccine, we have not seen any severe or potentially life threatening reactions.
"Parents in Jersey do not need to take any action other than to reassure their daughters that the event in the UK is unrelated to their having had the HPV vaccination. It is possible that the death in the UK was due to an underlying health problem, or was a coincidence, and may have nothing directly to do with the vaccine. Nevertheless, in line with the UK, this particular batch has been quarantined and will remain so until further notice.
"We have written to all parents of girls in Jersey who have received the vaccine or are due to receive it, to reassure them that we are taking every precaution with our children by postponing the HPV vaccinations that would have happened at Hautlieu School today (29 September 2009) and at Highlands College tomorrow."
The HPV vaccination programme in Jersey is likely to resume shortly.
gov.je