Posted online: Nov 12th, 2008

Independent Cllr. Thomas Pringle, who is one of six councillors who represent the Donegal Electoral area on Donegal County Council has slammed the government’s decision to cancel the HPV vaccine programme as ‘mean spirited, short sighted and disgraceful. The vaccination programme was announced only last Septermber and now has been cancelled’ continued Pringle.
‘It is ironic that this announcement has been made as the votes are being counted in the Donegal Youth Council elections. The previous youth council had made the provision of a vaccine for HPV one of it’s priorities and was delighted as the announcement was made to roll-out the vaccination programme. This is surely a hard lesson in politics for the youth councillors that shows how gains can be easily taken away’ said Pringle.
‘This is a very short sighted decision by the government. They will save less than €10m by dropping this vaccination. How much will it cost in the years ahead treating the women who will unfortunately get cervical cancer because of this decision. The government is being penny wise and pound foolish in this case. Investing for the future in women’s health would save much more money in the years to come’ stated Pringle.
‘What does this decision mean for the roll-out of Breastcheck to the Northwest, we need to ask ourselves now, will the measles vaccination be next to be abolished’ asks Pringle.