KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Ministry of Education says that while it supports the Ministry of Health’s initiative to offer the HPV vaccine to schoolgirls between age nine and 14, parents have the option of refusing to have their daughters receive the vaccine.

In a release today, the education ministry noted that parents have been issued with letters which have a refusal section attached.

“Once ‘refused’ is ticked the nurses will not administer the vaccine to those girls,” the education ministry said.

The vaccine is being offered in all schools for the grade 7 students. The vaccine is expected to assist in preventing cervical cancer.

Meanwhile, the ministry of Health says its officers have met with school nurses and sensitisation sessions held.

In addition, the education ministry is reminding that the general policy dictates that school nurses are not authorised to administer un-prescribed drugs including those categorised as “over the counter” medication.