AROUND 90,000 teenage girls will receive a new vaccine to block the onset of cervical cancer, ministers will announce this week.
The scheme represents Scotland's largest ever immunisation programme and will be available to all girls aged between 12 and 17.
The move follows shocking figures showing that incidence rates of the disease were up to a third higher in most regions
of Scotland than the national UK average. More than 500 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year and around 100 die.
High rates of sexual activity are widely blamed for the spread of the disease. The new vaccine works by protecting against the sexually transmitted papilloma virus which leads to 70% of the cases of cervical cancer.
The decision to give the vaccine to younger girls is backed by medics who say it should be administered before they are sexually active.
Starting this September, girls will receive the immunisation at around the age of 12-13. Meanwhile, girls between the ages of 13 and 17 will be targeted with a 'catch-up' campaign.
Public Health Minister Shona Robison said: "This immunisation programme has the potential to save hundreds of lives each year. That's why we are moving swiftly to ensure as many girls as possible receive the vaccine and 90,000 will be immunised in the first year of the programme alone."
She added: "By starting the catch-up programme this year, a year ahead of the rest of the UK, we are ensuring that more girls at the upper end of the age spectrum will receive the vaccine as soon as possible."
In Scotland, the lifetime risk of a woman developing cervical cancer is one in 124.
Health chiefs point out that women above the age of 20 should continue to attend for cervical screening, as the vaccine can only prevent up to 70% of cervical cancers.
