Laura Brennan
Born(1992-09-30)September 30, 1992
Ennis, County Clare, Ireland
DiedMarch 20, 2019(2019-03-20) (aged 26)
University Hospital Limerick
NationalityIrish
Alma materEnnis National School, St. Flannan's College, Ennis, University College Dublin
Known forAdvocating for HPV vaccination

Laura Joanne Brennan (September 30, 1992 – March 20, 2019) was an Irish advocate for the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination.[1][2][3][4] She used her terminal diagnosis of cervical cancer[5] to spread awareness regarding cervical cancer and the importance of HPV vaccination.[6][7][8][9][10][11] Both a vaccination catch-up programme[12] and an award[13] were named in her honour.

Early life, career

Brennan was born in Ennis, County Clare, Ireland[14] to parents Larry and Bernie Brennan.[15][16][11][17] She was the youngest of 4 children with brothers Colin, Fergal, and Kevin.[18][19]

She completed her early education at the Ennis National School and later at St. Flannan's College, Ennis.

Brennan was a beauty consultant and sales representative.[20][21][22]

Advocacy activity

Brennan was diagnosed with cervical cancer stage 2b in 2016,[23][24][25] and her treatment started in January 2017.[26][17] [27][28][29] She used her diagnosis of terminal illness to spread awareness regarding the importance of HPV vaccination so that more individuals do not have to suffer from it.[30][31][32] Brennan advocated for the HPV vaccination in conjunction with the Irish Health Service and the World Health Organisation (WHO).[33][20][34]

She contacted Ireland's Health Service Executive (HSE) in 2017, offering to assist with its HPV vaccination awareness campaign.[35][12][36] At the time, there was a crisis of confidence in the HPV vaccination program.[37][23][38] With the HSE's HPV vaccine campaign, Brennan produced a series of videos for distribution on the internet.[20][31][39] In April 2018, she became a national sensation after appearing on Ryan Tubridy's The Late Late Show.[40][41] Brennan collaborated on a video with the HSE and the European Regional Office of the WHO.[34] During her active campaigning, vaccination rates rose from 51% in 2017 to 70% in 2019.[11][42][17][43]

In November 2022, the Irish Health Minister Stephen Donnelly and the Brennan family announced the Laura Brennan HPV Vaccination Catch-Up Programme, which would be available until December 2023. This programme provides a once-off-only vaccination opportunity for women up to 25 who did not get the HPV vaccine when offered in the past and also for boys who had started their secondary education in 2019 who missed out.[12][38][44][15][41]

Reception and legacy

This Is Me - television documentary

In May 2019, RTÉ produced and broadcast a documentary on Brennan's last month titled Laura Brennan: This Is Me.[45][38][27][36][46] It covered her memories and her experience of living with cancer and chronicled her final months.[23][24][25] Subsequently, the uptake of the HPV vaccination increased to 81% nationally in Ireland and 90% in her native County of Clare. The documentary won the Gold Award at a New York Festivals Film and TV Awards in 2020.[47][48][17]

Laura Brennan The Voice - radio documentary

The Laura Brennan The Voice tribute documentary was broadcast on Clare FM local radio on March 21, 2022.[30]

Tributes

After her death, members of the public, health professionals, and others paid tribute to Brennan's decision to devote her time to health advocacy. For several days, the hashtag #ThankYouLaura was trending on Twitter.[22][49]

President Michael D. Higgins commented in a statement, "Laura impressed so many with her campaigning, and her work as a patient advocate has had a real and positive effect on countless young women across the country." The Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheál Martin said Brennan's "courageous advocacy in highlighting the fight against cervical cancer, without question, saved the lives of many women."[28]

The Minister for Health, Simon Harris, said, "Laura was an incredible young woman and a powerful campaigner. 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. As a person, she was kind, funny, and full of life. Her enthusiasm was infectious. Every time I met Laura or spoke with her, I was inspired by her. Amazing doesn't do justice to her or her courage."[50][28]

Awards and honours

In 2018, she was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Literature from the University College Dublin.[20]

In 2019, Brennan was recognized as the Clare Person of the Year.[26][41] She received the inaugural Patient Advocate Medal from the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.[34][18]

At the 69th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe in September 2019 in Copenhagen, Denmark, the World Health Organization (Europe) posthumously awarded Brennan for her outstanding contribution to improving people's health in the WHO European Region.[51]

The Irish Society of Gynaecological Oncology presents the Laura Brennan Award yearly in her memory.[13][52][53] In 2021, the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland unveiled a portrait of Brennan at 6 Kildare Street to honour her work promoting the HPV vaccine and her exceptional contribution to increasing vaccination rates.[3][7][8][18]

References

  1. ↑ Cockerell, Isobel (3 June 2020). "Inside the anti-vaccine campaign that targets young women". Coda Story. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  2. ↑ "Laura Brennan - UCD President's Office". www.ucd.ie. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  3. 1 2 Rountree, Sara (24 June 2021). "Plaque erected in honour of late CervicalCheck campaigner Laura Brennan". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  4. ↑ "RTÉ presenter Sinead Kennedy says she hopes Winning Streak will return". SundayWorld.com. 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  5. ↑ "'Incredible' terminally-ill woman who campaigns for HPV vaccine praised as teen uptake of jab rises to 70pc". Independent.ie. 11 March 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  6. ↑ Aodha, Gráinne Ní (26 February 2020). "Garda and GAA coach diagnosed with neck cancer talks about the importance of the HPV vaccine". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  7. 1 2 "Health minister praises late campaigner Laura Brennan as cervical cancer vaccine made free for under 25s". Independent.ie. 20 May 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  8. 1 2 "HPV vaccine campaigner Laura Brennan honoured with portrait at Royal College of Physicians". Independent.ie. 14 October 2021. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  9. ↑ "'Now my son can also get the HPV vaccine'". Independent.ie. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  10. ↑ "'Laura was a light in the life of everyone who knew her' HPV vaccine campaigner Laura Brennan passes away aged 26 - Extra.ie". 20 March 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  11. 1 2 3 "Laura Brennan: Irish HPV vaccine campaigner dies aged 26". BBC News. 21 March 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  12. 1 2 3 Finn, Christina (27 August 2019). "Family of Laura Brennan say today is a 'bittersweet day' as the HPV vaccine is extended to boys". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  13. 1 2 McNeice, Stephen. "HPV vaccine almost 'wipes out' cases of cervical disease in young women, study finds". Newstalk. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  14. ↑ Hughes, Edel (21 March 2019). "Ryan Tubridy reveals how Irish HPV campaigner fulfilled dreams". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  15. 1 2 Halpin, Hayley (8 December 2022). "Online registration portal opens for HPV vaccine catch-up programme named after Laura Brennan". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  16. ↑ "'Stick your vaccine up your arse' – the Covid-19 vaccine, the science and the sceptics". The Irish Times. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  17. 1 2 3 4 "This Is Me: Viewers moved by Laura Brennan documentary on RTE Player". Independent.ie. 5 June 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  18. 1 2 3 "Laura Brennan remembered on what would have been cervical cancer vaccine advocate's 30th birthday". Independent.ie. 1 October 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  19. ↑ Hughes, Edel (22 March 2019). "Funeral details for brave HPV vaccine campaigner Laura Brennan, 26, announced". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  20. 1 2 3 4 Hughes, Edel (5 February 2019). "Brave Irishwoman fronts health campaign after terminal diagnosis". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  21. ↑ "Book of condolence to be opened for Laura Brennan". JOE.ie. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  22. 1 2 Phelan, Roisin (15 November 2022). "Vicky sympathised with us when our Laura died - now we think of her family". The Irish Sun. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  23. 1 2 3 "Laura Brennan documentary airing on RTÉ Player". RTE. 31 May 2019.
  24. 1 2 Magliocco, Sarah (1 October 2022). "Tributes paid to Laura Brennan on the day that would have been her 30th birthday". RSVP Live. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  25. 1 2 Roberts, Sam (1 June 2019). "Watch Laura Brennan's emotional speech just weeks before tragic death". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  26. 1 2 Daly, Ailbhe (20 March 2019). "Cervical cancer sufferer and HPV vaccine advocate Laura Brennan dies aged 26". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  27. 1 2 "RTE's Sinead Kennedy devastated Laura Brennan never got to see her documentary". The Irish Sun. 23 September 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  28. 1 2 3 McNeice, Stephen. "Funeral of HPV vaccine campaigner Laura Brennan to take place today". Newstalk. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  29. ↑ Aodha, Gráinne Ní (14 April 2018). "'In their eyes I'll see pain... because their daughter is deteriorating in front of them'". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  30. 1 2 Moore, Jane (26 March 2022). "'She saved thousands of lives': Documentary pays tribute to HPV vaccine campaigner Laura Brennan". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  31. 1 2 McDermott, Stephen (27 March 2019). "'She loved the excitement of life': Funeral of vaccine campaigner Laura Brennan taking place in Clare". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  32. ↑ McNeice, Stephen. "Memorial plaque among items stolen from Laura Brennan's grave in Co Clare". Newstalk. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  33. ↑ "World Cancer Day: action for protection against cervical cancer". www.who.int. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  34. 1 2 3 McDermott, Stephen (21 March 2019). "'You can't really dwell on questions': How Laura Brennan used her terminal cancer to help others". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  35. ↑ "Researchers Say Fewer Pricks Could Help Combat Covid Vaccine Hesitancy". Gizmodo. 27 September 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  36. 1 2 "'People said horrendous things about me' – New documentary about Laura Brennan". Independent.ie. 31 May 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  37. ↑ "Family of Laura Brennan highlight importance of HPV vaccine on what would have been her 28th birthday". echo live. 30 September 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  38. 1 2 3 Reilly, Jerome (27 August 2019). "'Bittersweet day' as Laura Brennan's brother launches HPV vaccine programme". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  39. ↑ "HPV and flu vaccines: who needs them? What are the risks if you don't get them?". The Irish Times. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  40. ↑ Surve, Aakanksha (15 March 2019). "Exciting line-up for this week's Late Late Show including one major star". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  41. 1 2 3 Roberts, Sam (21 March 2019). "Ryan Tubridy pays heartbreaking tribute to Laura Brennan, 26, after tragic death". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  42. ↑ McNeice, Stephen. "Tributes paid to 'truly selfless' HPV vaccine campaigner Laura Brennan". Newstalk. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  43. ↑ "HPV vaccine campaigner Laura Brennan dies aged 26". RTE. 20 March 2019.
  44. ↑ "Catch-up programme launched for HPV vaccine". RTE. 8 December 2022.
  45. ↑ Gallagher, Katie (17 October 2022). "Sinead Kennedy opens up on long distance marriage to naval officer husband". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  46. ↑ O'Donoghue, Donal (24 October 2022). "Sinead Kennedy: "My life changed completely and utterly"". RTE.
  47. ↑ "RTÉ Player". RTÉ Player. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  48. ↑ Gallagher, Katie (22 April 2020). "RTE documentary Laura Brennan: This is Me wins major TV award in New York". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  49. ↑ "Examining the legacy of Laura Brennan and the HPV vaccine". The Irish Times. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  50. ↑ "Cervical cancer campaigner Laura Brennan dies at 26". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 20 March 2019. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  51. ↑ "Day 2 highlights: Dr Hans Kluge nominated next WHO Regional Director for Europe". www.who.int. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  52. ↑ Daly, Rebecca (22 September 2022). "Irish man diagnosed with prostate cancer following frequent urination at night". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  53. ↑ McDermott, Stephen (18 September 2018). "Parents urged to ask medical professionals about HPV vaccine instead of relying on 'misinformation'". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
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