EAST Lancashire parents will be quizzed over the next few days about whether they want their children to have a controversial cancer jab.

The families of thousands of eligible school girls across East Lancashire are set to receive letters about the new cervical cancer vaccine this week.

If parents opt-in to the national programme, health officials believe future cases of cervical cancer in the area could be dramatically cut.

However critics have accused the scheme of encouraging promiscuity as cervical cancer is mainly spread through unprotected sex.

Parents can decide to opt out of the scheme, but both NHS Blackburn with Darwen and East Lancashire PCT are recommending they allow their children to take part.

Cervical cancer is the second most common female cancer worldwide and kills over 100 women in the north west every year.

More than 70 per cent of cervical cancers are caused by the human papillomavirus (CORR) (HPV) which would be prevented with the new HPV vaccine.

Director of Public Health at NHS Blackburn with Darwen, Aislinn O’Dwyer, said: “New cases of cervical cancer have been falling for years thanks to the national cervical cancer screening programme.

Now over the next 10 years, across England and Wales, the HPV vaccine should prevent an additional 4,000 deaths from cervical cancer.

“However, because it doesn’t protect against all forms of cervical cancer it will be essential that girls, like their mothers, take part in the NHS cervical cancer screening programme once they are old enough.”

“The HPV vaccination programme is another important step forward that will benefit the health of women in Blackburn with Darwen for years to come.”

Director of Public Health at East Lancashire PCT, which covers Burnley, Pendle, Rossendale, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley, Dr Ellis Friedman said: “We are part of this national initiative to vaccinate 12-13-year-old girls school by school from this week onwards.”

Although males can carry and pass on the HPV virus which causes cervical cancer, schoolboys in the area will not be vaccinated as the scheme is aimed at protecting women and girls from developing cervical cancer.

The vaccine, which is given in three doses over six months, is being offered to all 12 and 13-year-old girls in year eight from this month and will become an on-going programme in schools. Later this year, girls who are aged 17 and 18 will also be offered the vaccination.

From August 2009 there will also be a two year catch-up vaccination programme for girls aged 15 to 18. So by summer 2011, all girls in the borough aged 18 and under will have had the chance to be vaccinated.

Nationally the scheme has created some controversy.

Christian Voice and The National Family Campaign warned the vaccine could lead to risky sexual behaviour from girls who feel they are protected from STDs.