Catholic schoolgirls lead Gardasil take-up

Gardasil uptake has been highest in Catholic schools, contrary to fears they would shun the vaccine, an Australian study finds.

The study of WA’s Year 7 school vaccination program found 77% of girls in Catholic schools had been fully vaccinated against HPV, compared with 73% of those in government schools.

This was despite “anecdotal fears that parents with strong religious beliefs would be less likely to consent their daughters to be vaccinated against an STI”, researchers