UK Begins Massive HPV Vaccine Campaign

The UK kicked off a campaign to give 12- and 13-year-old girls the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, the Times of London reports. Schools will begin offering the shot, which is not mandatory, this week. The government estimates that it will vaccinate over 2 million girls by 2011. Beside official programs, the campaign also includes youth-oriented advertising.

“Remember chica, this is a totally life-saving, revolutionary vaccine!” reads an ad on the popular Lola’s Land social-networking site. “Let’s fight cervical cancer together and arm ourselves against it!” (More HPV stories.)