An increasing number of young girls are shunning potentially life saving vaccinations due to a lack of awareness and a fear of needles, Luke Waters reports.
The Cancer Council is alarmed at the statistics and has launched an education campaign aiming to improve knowledge and the take-up of HPV vaccinations.
At the age of 12 or 13, about 75 per cent of girls take up the offer of free Human Papilloma Virus vaccinations at school.
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The Cancer Council hopes to raise that to 100 per cent through an educational video aimed at girls in the target demographic.
The Cancer Council has enlisted the girls themselves to help produce the video and hone in on the issues seen as barriers to vaccination - which include fear of needles.
Now, there's a push for boys to benefit from a similar free school-based vaccination.
The federal government is considering a recommendation that the program be fully subsidised.
Parents are encouraged to ensure vaccination consent cards are signed and returned to schools as soon as possible.
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