The New Nation - Internet Edition

Young women are missing out on vital care to protect them against cervical cancer, a charity has warned.

Plans to vaccinate girls across England will only cater for those up to the age of 18.

Yet women are not invited for smear tests until they are 25, meaning those aged 18 to 25 are being put at risk, said the charity Jo's Trust. It called on the Government to ensure all young women have access to NHS prevention programmes.

The Government announced in October that girls aged 12 to 13 will be vaccinated to help protect against cervical cancer from this September. Those in Year Eight will receive the jab in a programme costing up to £100 million a year.

There will also be a two-year "catch-up" campaign starting in autumn 2009 for girls aged up to 18, costing up to £200 million a year. This means girls aged 16 to 18 years (Years 12 and 13) will be offered the vaccine from autumn 2009, and those aged 15 to 17 years (Years 11 and 12) will get it from autumn 2010.

The girls will be vaccinated against the sexually transmitted infection human papillomavirus (HPV).

HPV causes around 70% of cases of cervical cancer, which kills more than 1,000 women in the UK each year.

Jo's Trust director Pamela Morton said she was delighted the vaccination programme was being implemented but there were concerns the NHS may not be ready to start it in September. She has asked the Department of Health for confirmation that the programme will be introduced through schools but has not yet received a reply.

She said: "There has been nothing forthcoming on whether it will be implemented through schools. It's February and you would like to think you would have some information you could pass on to parents about this."

-The Press Association