Cervical cancer vaccine campaign strikes gold

02 November 2009

The success of the Human Papilloma Virus vaccine publicity drive has been recognised at this year's Chartered Institute of Public Relations Scottish awards, picking up the Gold award for best public sector campaign.

The vaccine protects girls against strains of HPV which are known to cause 70% of cervical cancer cases, the second most common cancer in women aged under 35 in the UK. Latest figures for uptake show that around 90 per cent of targeted girls in secondary school have so far been vaccinated, with further immunisation campaigns planned.

The judges said: "This was a very impressive, well planned and comprehensive campaign. It made good use of research across a range of communications channels, and the increase in the take up of the vaccine says it all."

The campaign was carried out by Consolidated Communications, on behalf of Health Protection Scotland and NHS Health Scotland.