Gauteng. -The second phase of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination drive is currently underway, and the Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) is reminding parents, caregivers, and legal guardians to provide consent for their children to receive the vaccine.
The aim is to ensure that children do not miss out on the HPV vaccination campaign. The vaccine is administered to schoolgirls in Grade 5 who are aged 9 years and above.
According to the GDoH, the vaccination drive’s primary goal is to protect girls from developing cervical cancer later in life. The campaign began on September 4, 2023, and will continue until October 31, 2023.
The GDoH explains that HPV is a common virus that can infect both males and females and can potentially lead to cervical cancer later in life.
MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo Ralehoko, stated: “There are over 200 types of HPV viruses, and research has shown that HPV types 16 and 18 account for more than 70% of cervical cancer cases. The Cervarix HPV Vaccine is very safe and effective in preventing HPV infection caused by these two HPV strains (type 16 and 18).”
During the first phase of the vaccination drive from February 2023 to March 2023, a total of 72,880 Grade 5 girls out of 90,492 received the first dose of the HPV vaccine. All these girls are now due to receive their second HPV vaccine dose. Those girls who were not yet 9 years old and are still in Grade 5 or were absent during the first round will also receive their first HPV doses.
The department also mentions that during this period, school health teams will administer a booster dose of Tetanus Diphtheria (TD). This is done to prevent TD disease outbreaks in the community, particularly among adolescents, and to increase TD immunization coverage among school-going adolescents.
“It is safe to administer TD simultaneously with the HPV vaccine.”
The department emphasises the importance of having a signed consent form, which is valid for the entire year, for routine comprehensive Integrated School Health Programme (ISHP).
No child will be screened or vaccinated without a signed consent form, but children aged 12 and above can sign and provide their consent themselves.
