Ministry backs school over vaccine

The Ministry of Health says a West Coast school is within its rights to prevent girls receiving the HPV shot on its premises.

Hokitika's Westland High School board has refused to allow the Gardasil HPV vaccine, to protect girls from cervical cancer, to be administered on its grounds. It will not say why, but last year published information highlighting the risks.

Health spokesman Dr John Holmes says it is up to the Board of Trustees of each school to decide whether they provide facilities for immunisations to take place on school grounds. He says the local DHB has arranged an alternative venue.

- NEWSTALK ZB