Parents across Northern Ireland were last night urged to allow their daughters to take part in a new government vaccine programme aimed at driving down deaths from cervical cancer.

The British Medical Association (BMA) was among the voices welcoming the launch of the Department of Health’s programme to immunise schoolgirls against two strains of the Humanpapillomavirus (HPV), which spreads through sexual activity and causes 70% of cervical cancer.

The vaccine is opposed by some, mainly Christian groups, who are worried it will encourage young girls to be promiscuous.

Northern Ireland’s chief medical officer, Dr Michael McBride, urged parents to allow their daughters to take part in the programme now routinely offered to girls aged 12-13 in schools.

His call was supported by Dr Brian Dunn, chairman of BMA’s Northern Ireland GPs committee, who said: “This is an important public health measure and we would encourage all girls in this age group to take up the offer of vaccination. We are also pleased to see that this programme will be extended via the GP network to the wider teenage age group in Northern Ireland.”

SDLP health spokeswoman Carmel Hanna said she understood “the concerns and reservations of parents and organisations about vaccinating girls as young as 12 against cervical cancer”.

“However, this measure is not meant to encourage or advocate underage sexual activity, on the contrary. This vaccine is being offered to young girls to prevent them getting cervical cancer in later life. It is a preventative measure and hopefully should decrease the amount of deaths caused by this ‘silent’ cancer,” she added.

“The central part of sexual education should be the promotion of abstinence. However, educationalists and health workers need to educate our children and young people about all aspects of sexual health and safe sex, to ensure they make the right choices.”

The Ulster Cancer Foundation also welcomed the development. Liz Atkinson, head of care services at the charity, said: “HPV is the main cause of cervical cancer and over 80 women in Northern Ireland are diagnosed each year.

“Cervical cancer has few warning signs and develops over a long period of time. Many women are only diagnosed when the disease is at an advanced stage, resulting in high mortality rates.”

Ms Atkinson also advocated the need for regular smear testing for women, despite the vaccination.

“Many women in Northern Ireland will still be at risk from cervical cancer and, for them, going for a regular smear test is the only effective way to find cervical cancer early.

“Having a smear test can make a difference as cancerous cells can be detected and treated at a very early stage,” she added.

Dr McBride said the vaccine was ultimately about saving lives.

“Cervical cancer kills around 40 women every year in Northern Ireland. The HPV vaccine is a major breakthrough in the fight against cancer,” he said.