Western Cape Government Health in conjunction with the National Department of Health will have professional teams travelling from school to school to administer the follow-up or booster dose of the HPV vaccination to all girls in Grade 4 who received the first dose in April this year. An estimated 4 559 girls in the Eden district will receive the vaccination during the second round. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the virus that causes Cervical Cancer, the vaccination protects women from being infected by HPV and thus reduces the risk of developing HPV related cervical cancer later in life. Cervical Cancer is the second most prevalent cancer among women after Breast Cancer.
Those girls who were not yet nine (9) years old during the first round in April, or did not return signed consent forms will now have the opportunity to receive the vaccination. This is a small group of approximately 13%, these girls will receive their booster shot during the 2015 campaign. The second round will run from today, 29 September to 31 October 2014.
The HPV vaccination that is used is Cervarix® and protects the girls specifically against HPV strains 16 and 18 which are the most virulent types of HPV. The vaccination’s efficacy against contraction of the virus is proven with marked decreases in the incidence of HPV infection in countries such as the USA, India and the UK, where the vaccine has been available for a while. Vaccination remains the safest method to prevent illness. Only girls who return their consent forms or formed part of the first round of the campaign will be vaccinated. “We now have the opportunity to stop this illness; all that is required is effective vaccination. Western Cape Government Health will help you do this. Our health teams have started visiting schools around the province to vaccinate Grade 4 girls.” Stated Minister Theuns Botha, Western Cape Minister of Health
For more information on HPV, the vaccination an how to ensure that your daughter stays HPV free, please visit the following link here
The information is available in all three languages of the Western Cape.
