A new TV campaign featuring students in Aberdeen is being broadcast to encourage more girls to have a life saving jab against cervical cancer.

The ad which will be aired for the next four weeks hopes to encourage all females in Scotland born on or after the September 1 1990 to have the vaccine.

It follows the launch of the national Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Immunisation Programme in Scotland in August 2008.

The vaccine helps to protect against the two main types of HPV that can cause cervical cancer. Three injections are given to girls over a six month period.

In schools, all S2 girls are routinely offered the vaccine, and in a one-off, three year, catch up programme running 2008-2011, older girls are also being offered the vaccine.

Laura Kluzniak, HPV Co-coordinator for NHS Grampian said: "The HPV vaccine will save lives. NHS Grampian is targeting the campaign at those girls out of school and who are still eligible for the vaccine, as it is the last year of catch up and really the final opportunity the out of school girls have to get this vaccine as part of the national programme.

"It is also targeted at their families with a view to raising awareness within the wider community about the benefits of having the jab, and the importance of having the full dose to get best protection."

The campaign will include a TV advert that lets people know more about the vaccine, including who is eligible and where they can get protected. The girls are advised to contact their GP, or look out for their own pink invite in the post. GP Practices will be issuing invitations to all eligible girls.

The TV advert stars Robert Gordon University students who have been vaccinated, and brings them together to support the national message: ''together we can fight cervical cancer". It is hoped to boost the number of girls having the immunisation by reassuring their peers and encouraging them to also have the jab.

The TV advert will be broadcast from the week of November 1 for four weeks.

Robert Gordon Universitystudent Ria Duthie, who provided the voiceover and starred in the TV campaign said: "I was initially worried about the jab, but really there was nothing to worry about. I would encourage any girl who is eligible to have the vaccine to take the opportunity."