The Welsh Assembly Government is investing around 9m to protect an extra 40,000 teenage girls against cervical cancer.
The money will be used to fund a two-year campaign that aims to speed up the roll-out of the Human Papillomavirus vaccine (HPV) to 15- to 17-year-olds.
The vaccine has already been offered to all 12- and 13-year-olds in Wales since the start of this school year. Nearly 90 per cent of 12- and 13-year-olds have had their first vaccination and about 75 per cent have had their second.
Health Minister Edwina Hart said: "HPV vaccination is a very significant public health development and I would like Wales to press ahead by undertaking the catch-up campaign more quickly than planned. I recognise that additional efforts will be needed but am confident that local health professionals will rise to the challenge."
