Vaccinating young girls against HPV

HPV vaccination campaign launched in Gauteng schools.

The Gauteng Department of Health is on a mission to vaccinate as many young girls as possible against the human papillomavirus (HPV). The department informed and reminded parents, caregivers and legal guardians of school girls that are in Grade 5 or nine years old and above that the campaign will take place between February 14 and March 14 at all public primary schools.

This will be the first round of the campaign and is aimed at protecting girls from developing cervical cancer later in life according to the department. Learners who are not reached during this first period will be vaccinated when schools re-open on April 5. The second dose of HPV vaccine will be given after six months, between September 2 to October 31 later this year.

According to the health department, HPV is a common virus that can infect both men and women and could eventually cause cervical cancer later in life. There are over 200 types of HPV viruses and research has shown that HPV types 16 and 18 account for 70% of cervical cancer cases. The Cervarix HPV vaccine is given bi-annually and is very safe and effective in preventing HPV types 16 and 18 strains of the virus.

Parents, caregivers and legal guardians are urged to sign the relevant consent forms to ensure their children do not miss out on the HPV vaccination drive. They added that a consent form that is signed at the beginning of the year is valid for the whole year. This consent form will also be used for routine health assessments as part of the Integrated School Health Programme (ISHP). The ISHP includes the provision of health education, eye, ear, oral assessments, catch-up immunisations as well as deworming, including identification of any other health barriers. The department reiterated that the consent form for ISHP and HPV campaign will not be used for Covid-19 vaccination programme.