Girl, 14, dies after cervical cancer vaccine
Girl, 14, dies after being given cervical cancer vaccine at school
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By Martyn Thomas. |  |
Tuesday, 29, Sep 2009 10:00
By Richard James.
Health officials have launched an urgent investigation after a 14-year-old girl died after being given a cervical cancer vaccine at school.
The girl, named locally as Natalie Morton, died in hospital yesterday after receiving the Cervarix jab at her school - Blue Coat Church of England School in Coventry.
A post-mortem is expected to take place later today.
Dr Caron Grainger, joint director of public health for NHS Coventry and Coventry City Council, said tests were now ongoing and until the results were received, no immediate link could be made between the vaccine and the girl's death.
"The incident happened shortly after the girl had received her HPV vaccine in the school. No link can be made between the death and the vaccine until all the facts are known and a post-mortem takes place," she said.
"We are conducting an urgent and full investigation into the events surrounding this tragedy."
As a result of the girl's death the batch of the vaccine has been put into quarantine as the investigation continues.
A statement from the school's headmaster Dr Julie Roberts was posted online yesterday urging parents of girls who received the vaccine to be "extra vigilant" regarding any symptoms or side-effects.
The most common reaction, Dr Roberts explained, was pain and a stinging sensation where the injection was administered.
Those with concerns are urged to contact their GPs.
The jab protects against the human papilloma virus (HPV), a sexually-transmitted disease commonly linked to cervical cancer.
The vaccination of 12- and 13-year-old girls was introduced in September last year.