1 in 3 SA girls have refused cervical cancer vaccine

09/14/2008- ALMOST a third of girls are shunning the free cervical cancer vaccine being offered in South Australian schools.

Health Department figures show about 50,000 girls in Years 8 to 12 were offered the Gardasil vaccine last year but about 16,000 - or 32 per cent - opted out.

While 2008 data is not yet available, the vaccine will be offered to at least 8200 Year 8 girls this year.

In New South Wales, it was recently reported that more than 40,000 of 173,607 schoolgirls offered the vaccine - or 23 per cent - chose not to have it.

Some parents in both states had concerns about side-effects and the risk of encouraging promiscuity by giving the impression the vaccine made unprotected sex safe.

Australian Medical Association SA president Dr Peter Ford said while he understood why some parents may be wary of the relatively new vaccine, he was disappointed so many girls were turning it down.

"Here we have a safe and effective vaccine so we would advocate that it be used," he said.

"You really are taking a considerable risk by not doing it."

Dr Ford said about 1000 Australian women were diagnosed with cervical cancer each year.

He encouraged hesitant parents to learn more about Gardasil and, hopefully, change their mind.

Cancer Council SA chief executive Associate Professor Brenda Wilson encouraged women to embrace the vaccination.

"The Gardasil vaccine is an exciting development in the prevention of cervical cancer," she said.

Year 8 student Ami Long had her third injection on Thursday and said she felt "heaps safer knowing that I have less of a chance of getting it (cervical cancer)".

Mother Liz Long, 39, was surprised at the high number of girls rejecting the vaccination. "We didn't even consider not taking it," she said.

While there was a slim chance of side effects, Mrs Long said they were "very minor compared to getting cervical cancer".

The Therapeutic Goods Administration website says 1013 adverse reactions to Gardasil had been reported to June 27, including headaches (202), dizziness (156), nausea (164) and vomiting (70).