The tour aims to inform teenage girls and young women about the Government’s Human Papilloma Virus immunisation campaign and how it can protect them against cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer affecting women worldwide and kills more than a hundred Scottish women each year.  

The vaccination, which will protect girls from two strains of HPV that cause around 70 per cent of cervical cancers, will be routinely offered to girls in Secondary 2 from the beginning of September. There will also be a three year catch-up campaign to vaccinate 120,000 girls aged 13-17, including those who have already left school.  

Minister for Public Health Shona Robison said the simple, effective vaccine will ensure that future generations are protected against the virus, calling the “lifesaving” vaccination an “enormous public health breakthrough that will help prevent young Scottish women from developing a potentially deadly disease." 

The Scottish Government has allocated £64m over three years to the HPV vaccination programme, with health boards receiving an additional £1.5m in 2008-09 to administer it.  

Dr Martin Donaghy, Medical Director of Health Protection Scotland, said the programme is a “huge step forward in terms of cancer prevention,” and will mean many women will not have to undergo invasive treatments later in life.    

While Dr Andrew Riley, Director of Public Health at NHS Borders said the immunisation is “vital” in the fight to significantly reduce future cervical cancer rates in the Scottish Borders.  

He added: "We are committed to delivering the programme and helping to protect young people in the area from a devastating and life-threatening disease." 

The roadshow will visit the Tesco store on Paton Street in Galashiels on Sunday 31 August between 11am and 5pm. 

For further information on Scotland's HPV vaccination campaign visit:  www.fightcervicalcancer.org.uk