The number of girls who receive a vaccine to help prevent cervical cancer has risen almost 20 per cent in two years.
Between April 2009 and February 2010 a total of 66.3 per cent of girls aged 12 and 13 in Barking and Dagenham took all three dose of a vaccine against the cervical cancer causing human papillomavirus (HPV.)
From April last year to the end of January this year the total rose to 84.4 per cent.
The national average for 2010/11 was 84.2 per cent, while the London average was 76.2 per cent.
All Year 8 girls in the UK are currently offered the chance to receive the vaccine for free.
Barking and Dagenham director of public health Matthew Cole said: “The uptake of all three doses of the HPV vaccine is higher in Barking and Dagenham than the London average.
“But, we know there is always more to do as the virus the vaccination protects against sadly still causes over 1000 deaths from cervical cancer in England each year.”
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