Member of the Mayoral Committee for Health and Social Development in the City of Johannesburg, councillor Nonceba Molwele, said the campaign was launched to vaccinate young girls in Grade 4 who are nine to 12 years old in all public and special needs schools. The vaccination prevents the infection of the cervix by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV).”
Councillor Molwele added that 80 percent of cervical cancers are caused by the Human Papillomavirus.
The first dose of the vaccine will be administered from 10 March to 11 April; the second dose will be administered from 29 September to 24 October.
One of the Midrand schools that will be visited by the department is Halfway House Primary School on 14 March. The school’s principal Silas Pillay said 85 girls will be vaccinated on the day. “We have sent out consent forms to parents so that they sign for their Grade 4 children to receive the vaccine.”
