Tributes have been pouring in for the HPV vaccine campaigner, Laura Brennan (26), who died today (March 20) at University Hospital Limerick.

Ms Brennan, who is from Co Clare, was diagnosed with terminal cervical cancer at the age of just 25. She contacted the HSE in 2017 and first provided her support to the HSE HPV Vaccine Information Campaign in April 2018. Since then, she had worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the importance of getting vaccinated.

Earlier this month, she posted a video on behalf of the HSE expressing her delight that the uptake rate for the HPV vaccine had increased to 70%.

In a statement, her family said they would be lost without her and described her as ‘a light in the life of everyone who knew her - a wonderful daughter, sister and friend'.

"We are all incredibly proud of the work she did in the last 18 months to help protect other young women like herself from the cancer that has taken her life today.

"Laura used her voice, her generosity and her energy to help parents to make informed choices and protect their daughters from cervical cancer. She wanted to make a difference, and use the time that she had to right what she felt was a great wrong," they said.

The Minister for Health, Simon Harris, said that he was ‘deeply saddened' to hear of Ms Brennan's death. He described her ‘an incredible young woman, who was kind, funny and full of life'.

"Despite her illness, she continued her advocacy and thanks in no small part to her sheer determination, the uptake of the HPV vaccine has increased among young women. The State owes her a debt of gratitude.

"Amazing doesn't do justice to her or her courage. I want to extend my deepest condolences to her family and friends," he commented.

The interim HSE director general, Anne O'Connor, also expressed her sincere condolences to Ms Brennan's family and friends.

"We are all deeply saddened to learn of Laura's death, and we feel immense gratitude and admiration for her and her family. Laura has defined courage and generosity as she supported our work to ensure girls get the HPV vaccine, and are protected from this terrible cancer.

"Laura came forward when she was first diagnosed with terminal cancer and our mission became hers. We know that Laura has made a difference, and will have saved lives through her great effort and her tremendous generosity of spirit," Ms O'Connor said.

The HSE's national director of communications, Paul Connors, pointed out that Ms Brennan's message has helped so many people here, but also spread beyond Ireland.

"At a moment when her time was most precious, she chose to stand in the public eye and tell her story in order to help others. She has reached many thousands of families through her remarkable videos as part of our advertising campaign, by telling her story in the media and by speaking at events all over the country.

"Laura's message has also spread outside Ireland. She was invited by the World Health Organization to Copenhagen, to prepare for an EU-wide campaign that was launched recently, and she also addressed a cervical cancer event in Boston in 2018," he noted.

Since Ms Brennan contacted the HSE in 2017, uptake of the HPV vaccine has increased by almost 20%, from 51% in 2017 to 70% this year.

According to Averil Power, CEO of the Irish Cancer Society, Ms Brennan's ‘steadfast determination influenced parents to make an informed decision to give their daughters the HPV vaccine and protect them against an illness that was to take her life'.

"Laura's legacy is already clear. In many homes across the country, parents will have her to thank for saving their daughters' lives," Ms Power added.

For more information on the HPV vaccine, click here