HPV vaccine, what does it do for girls?

South Africa has become the first African country to pay for cervical cancer vaccines for one of the most expensive immunisations in the world

Cervical cancer, which is caused by the sexually transmitted human papilloma virus (HPV), kills more South African women than any other cancer, according to the Medical Research Council.

Every year about 6000 women, many of whom are HIV positive, are diagnosed with HPV, and at least half die.

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi recently announced that the department will provide this vaccine to nine- and 10-year-old girls in poor schools, starting from February 2014.

The campaign will target girls before they become sexually active, because cervical cancer vaccines are not effective once the cancer-causing, sexually transmitted virus, HPV, has been contracted.

Girls in the wealthiest 20% of schools will not be covered by the programme.

“I am calling on all medical aid schemes in the country to pay for these vaccines to help parents in the category of pupils who will not be covered when we commence this programme,” said Motsoaledi.

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among South African women, but is the most deadly because it is often detected too late.

Of the 6 000 annual cervical cancer cases, more than half of those who contract it die.

Women infected with HIV are five times more likely to develop cervical cancer than uninfected women

“Virtually all sexually active people will at one time in their life be exposed to HPV. We also chose this age [nine years and older] because we know that these girls are least likely to have started sexual activity,” said Motsoaledi.

He said the government’s antenatal survey showed that girls as young as 10 are falling pregnant.

According to the minister, more than 3 000 health professionals have been trained to administer the vaccine in more than 17 000 schools across the country.

The first dose is being given in March and April and the second in September and October.