POLOKWANE – The Human Papi-lloma Virus (HPV) vaccine was officially launched in Limpopo at Laerskool Musina on Tuesday.
This is part of the government’s efforts to reduce cervical cancer among women and young girls.
The department of health, in partnership with the department of basic education, hosted an information workshop regarding the HPV vaccine with primary school principals at Laerskool Pietersburg (PLS) earlier this year.
Peet Bredenkamp, PLS principal, said the meeting was to help them understand what the HPV vaccine was so that they could explain it to the parents.
“The HPV vaccine is to help prevent cervical cancer. The vaccine will be given to nine-year-old girls in gr. 4, but only with parents’ consent. Parents have the right to say no,” he explained.
He added that officials from the department of health would visit all primary schools to vaccinate the learners.
“The vaccination will take place twice a year, from March to April and from September to October,” Bredenkamp explained.
Veronica Stopforth, general practitioner at Medpark Clinic in the city, said the HPV vaccine was indicated in helping to protect nine to 26-year-old males and females. It does not treat, it prevents, she added.
The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends routine vaccinations for girls and boys aged 11 to 12 years.
The CDC also recommends vaccination for women aged 13 to 26 years and young men aged 13 to 21 years who have not already been vaccinated.
According to Stopforth, worldwide over 600 women die each day of cervical cancer.
“About half of all women diagnosed with cervical cancer are between 35 and 55 years old. Many of these women were most likely exposed to cancer-causing HPV types during their teens and 20’s.
Vaccination protects against the types of HPV that cause 75% of cervical cancer cases and 90% of genital warts,” Stopforth explained.
Asked if the vaccine had any side effects, Stopforth identified the following as the most common:
• Headache;
• Fever;
• Nausea;
• Dizziness;
• Vomiting, and
• fainting.
“One cannot get HPV or any disease from the vaccines, as there is no live virus in the vaccine. The vaccine contains a protein that helps the body’s immune system produce antibodies against HPV, without causing infection,” Stopforth said.
