Minister for Health Simon Harris announced today that the HPV vaccine will be offered to teenage boys starting secondary school from September.

The vaccine, which has been available for girls since 2010, protects against a number of cancers caused by HPV.

Ireland will now be among 20 countries offering the vaccine to both girls and boys, with the aim to "effectively eradicate HPV cancers" over time.

The uptake among girls is currently around 70 per cent, having increased from 50 per cent, and Minister Harris says there has been "a lot of misinformation" about the vaccine.

He joined us on The Last Word to explain why society can't afford to be complacent about the issue, and the other steps he is taking to promote the benefits of vaccination.

Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page.