Learners vaccinated against HPV
Lots of women die from cervical cancer in their 50s, this vaccine is designed to prevent that.
JOHANNESBURG SOUTH – Female grade four learners at the La Rochelle Primary School were vaccinated against the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) on Tuesday, August 11.
The national Department of Health in partnership with the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) are planning to run this vaccination campaign throughout the South of Johannesburg till Friday, September 4.
Four registered nurses vaccinated the learners against HPV which is known to cause cervical cancer in adult women.
Parents were informed of the planned vaccination and requested to sign consent forms to allow their daughters, who are at least nine years old, to receive the preventative shot.
“Prevention is better than cure. In fact, this is a very cheap procedure compared to the treatment of cervical cancer. We will be going to many other schools to give the grade four learners who are at least nine years old two doses, six months apart. Parents who have children that could have missed the dose can contact the Health Department to find out more information. It is however best to sign the consent forms as the vaccine costs approximately R500 in pharmacies,” said nurse Lorraine Dibakoane.
