Greater Western Area Health Service (GWAHS) area manager - population health Tony Brown said vaccinations throughout the region in school-aged females had resulted in few side effects and definitely no deaths.

An American-based lobby group has claimed the vaccine Gardasil has been responsible for up to 20 deaths and adversely affected more than 8000 recipients.

But Mr Brown said that from nearly 1500 vaccinations recorded in Dubbo in the past two years, only two major adverse reactions had been recorded.

“Last year we had 746 eligible students and 578 of those received the three vaccination needles,” Mr Brown said.

“This year there are about 1200 eligible students and about 77 per cent of those have had the first two needles.

“Out of all those injections we have had two adverse reactions and one of those that needed to be transported to hospital.

“Of course we have had a few kids with sore arms and headaches but nothing too serious.”

The Gardisal vaccine was developed by former Australian of the Year Ian Frazer and protects against four strains of the human papilloma virus, which is responsible for causing genital warts and also cervical cancer.

Mr Brown said the emphasis should be on applauding such medical research and encouraging people to minimise their chance of developing such a disease.

“The group in the US believes the vaccine is promoting young girls to have sex,” Mr Brown said.

“That is not the case at all. What we are doing is giving young girls the best opportunity to avoid a serious and deadly disease.

“While it is a big step in avoiding the disease,the vaccine does not mean that sexually active girls should avoid their regular pap smear.

“Girls up to the age of 26 are also eligible to receive the vaccine from their general practitioner and are encouraged to discuss the matter with their doctor.”

ben.walker@ruralpress.com