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Women who are most at risk of the human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause cervical cancer, are less likely to get vaccinated against the virus, researchers have warned.

The BMJ study looked at data from 2,247 females aged 13-19 who had attended sexual health clinics between March and August 2011. Over half of the women who had had underage sex had not received the jab despite being offered it, while one quarter of those who had already contracted a sexually transmitted infection had not been vaccinated. Furthermore, nearly half of the women who were at increased risk of HPV because they smoked were also unprotected against the virus.

The authors have called for greater education of girls and young women about the importance of HPV vaccination.