The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) calls on parents, caregivers and legal guardians to support the province’s upcoming Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Campaign by signing and returning consent forms to schools to ensure eligible learners receive this life-saving vaccine.

The campaign, which forms part of the Integrated School Health Programme (ISHP), will run from August 3 to October 9 at participating independent primary schools across Gauteng.

The department stated that the vaccination teams will visit outstanding public primary and special schools to reach eligible learners who may have been missed during the earlier campaign, as the majority of public schools were covered during the rollout conducted earlier this year.

The HPV vaccine will be offered to all eligible Grade Five girls aged nine years and older, including learners who may have missed previous vaccination opportunities.

The department explained that a single dose of the vaccine provides effective protection against HPV infection and significantly reduces the risk of developing cervical cancer later in life.

Cervical cancer, also known as cancer of the cervix, remains one of the most common cancers affecting women in South Africa.

According to the department, it is largely preventable through HPV vaccination and regular cervical cancer screening.

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“HPV is a common virus that affects both males and females. While more than 200 types of HPV exist, types 16 and 18 are responsible for over 70% of cervical cancer cases.

“The HPV vaccine used in the public health programme, Cervarix, is safe and highly effective in protecting against these high-risk strains,” the health department shared.

The department highlighted that during the 2025/26 implementation period, its HPV vaccination campaign achieved significant reach across public and independent schools.

Of the 1 500 targeted public schools, 1 498 were reached, resulting in 72 249 Grade Five girls being vaccinated. In the independent school sector, Five30 of the 664 targeted schools were reached (79.8%), with 9 740 Grade Five girls vaccinated.

The department indicated that public schools recorded a learner coverage rate of 80%, compared to 37.7% in independent schools. Several challenges affected vaccine uptake, particularly in independent schools.

These included schools declining access to vaccination teams, learner absenteeism on vaccination days (affecting 1 830 learners), and the non-return of 24 327 parental consent forms.

The department explained that misinformation and vaccine hesitancy also contributed to lower vaccination rates in some schools.

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To address these barriers, the health department, in collaboration with the Gauteng Department of Education, has strengthened stakeholder engagement, intensified community education efforts and enhanced collaboration with schools to improve participation and vaccine uptake.

“A recent study published in The Lancet Global Health found that South Africa’s school-based HPV vaccination programme reduced infections caused by HPV types 16 and 18 by 83% among young women, including those living with HIV.

“The findings demonstrate the substantial public health benefits of achieving high HPV vaccination coverage,” said the department.

The health department noted that the success of this campaign depends on parental and community support. No learner will be vaccinated without a signed consent form.

According to the department, learners aged 12 years and older may provide their own consent in accordance with national health guidelines.

The department nevertheless encourages parents and caregivers to remain actively involved in this important health intervention.

The department has urged parents and guardians to read the information provided by schools, complete the consent forms and return them promptly to ensure eligible learners do not miss the opportunity to receive protection against cervical cancer.