HPV Vaccination
The Gauteng Department of Health is strongly encouraging parents, caregivers, and legal guardians to give their consent for the administration of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. The appeal comes as part of a broader initiative to safeguard girls from the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths among South African women.
The HPV vaccine is recognized as a critical preventative measure against cervical cancer, a disease that claims the lives of thousands of South African women annually. With the Health Department’s current campaign in full motion, the emphasis is on reaching girls between the ages of 9 and 15, before they become sexually active.
Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, has taken the helm of the campaign, stressing the importance of early vaccination. “In the country, more than 5 000 new cases are reported every year, and most are fatal. To ensure that girls are and remain protected against cervical cancer later in life, it is important that they get the HPV vaccine,” the department relayed on Sunday.
The ongoing campaign, which started on February 5th and will continue until March 20th, 2024, targets Grade 5 girls attending public primary and special schools across Gauteng. Administered with the Cervarix vaccine, which protects against HPV strains 16 and 18, the campaign has shifted to a single-dose approach, as opposed to the previously required two doses.
Matshidiso Luta, a 39-year-old mother from Vereeniging and cervical cancer survivor, expressed her gratitude as she consented to her daughter’s vaccination. “I feel very blessed and relieved knowing that my daughter will get the HPV vaccine to protect her against cervical cancer,” Luta shared. “I do not want to see her go through the same stressful, difficult, and painful time I went through during my battle with the disease.”
The previous campaign’s success rate was significant, with 84.6% of Grade 5 girls receiving their second dose of the vaccine. Nonetheless, the department has not overlooked those who were ineligible or absent during the last drive and plans to administer catch-up doses accordingly.
A comprehensive Integrated School Health Programme (ISHP) consent form, signed by parents at the outset of the year, streamlines the process for the various health services offered onsite at schools, including eye and oral assessments, deworming, and nutritional evaluations.
MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko’s message to those who have yet to sign the consent form was imbued with a sense of urgency. “We wish to appeal to those who had not signed the consent to think about the long-term implications of not having their children immunised. By giving consent, you are taking a responsible step to ensure that we save the future of our girls, a single dose at a time,” she implored.
UNICEF’s data delineates the criticality of such vaccination campaigns, reinforcing the notion that protection against HPV is more than a health measure — it represents a safeguarding of the future health and well-being of girls across the province and beyond.
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