Health department to administer vaccinations in schools

The City of Johannesburg Health Department together with the Gauteng Department of Health will be embarking on a campaign to provide the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine and deworming vaccination.

The campaign started in 2014 taking place annually in all public schools in Gauteng.

The HPV vaccine will be given to school going girls in Grade Four aged nine and above.

Deworming vaccine will be given to pupils from Grade R to Grade Seven.

According to public health manager Munyai Nkhiphitheni from City of Joburg, the purpose of the vaccinations is to prevent cervical cancer.

“It is also to protect pupils against worm infestations and cervical cancer amongst young girls,” said Nkhiphitheni.

Almost 80% of cervical cancers are caused by the HPV.

The virus can infect the genital area and cause a genital wart or cervical and other cancers.

The vaccination prevents the virus from developing onto the cervix.

This is according to the health department at the City of Joburg.

Member of the Mayoral Committee for Health and Social Development Councillor Nonceba Molwele said the department will visit the schools.

“We will visit public and special schools to administer these vaccinations.

“No pupil will be vaccinated without parental consent and parents should ensure that they have signed and returned the consent forms which they will receive from the school that their child attends,” said Molwele.

Dates are as follows:

The first dose (HPV1) will be administered as from February 18 to March 11.

The HPV1 campaign will include deworming.

The second dose (HPV2) will take place in August and September.

@Gmaster34