Cervical cancer, the leading cause of cancer among women aged 35 to 44 years, is almost entirely preventable.
According to the Western Cape Department of Health, an effective and affordable way of preventing this is through vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV), being offered to Grade 5 girls over age 9 in public and special schools in February and March.
World Cancer Day, celebrated this month, reminds one how essential it is to support prevention efforts and save people’s lives. Parents and caregivers can play a vital role in supporting the health department’s HPV vaccination programme this year. They are reminded that consent forms they had signed were going to be only for the HPV vaccine, which is different from the Covid-19 vaccine. The two vaccines are not the same.
According to the World Health Organization, a large proportion of cervical cancer (more than 95%) is due to the HPV. The more eligible girls are vaccinated against it the lower their risk of developing cervical cancer as adults.
The health department acknowledges parents’ concerns about their children being vaccinated because they work hard to protect them every day. Some girls may experience bruising or redness at the injection site. In most cases, the side effects usually resolve within a few days.
The Covid-19 pandemic has seen a reduction in the 2021 vaccination coverage provincially. Nurses found it more difficult to reach those learners attending schools on a rotational timetable, while misinformation and other issues led to parents and caregivers withdrawing consent forms particularly around the time when children 12 years and older became eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine. As they can administer HPV vaccines only on the premises of schools, nurses will again work hard to ensure good relations with principals and teachers so the department can reach as many eligible girls as possible this year.
Sr Beatrice Groenewald, the Overberg District child health coordinator, says she and her HPV team members are implementing various measures to achieve high levels of vaccination coverage. She said: “With the help of girls in Grade 5, we are sending their parents printed HPV vaccine FAQs [frequently asked questions] in local languages, together with the consent form. This can enable them to familiarise themselves with the key facts (that the HPV is safe and effective, and different from the Covid-19 vaccine) and make an informed decision. Each girl who returns a signed consent form will then receive a ruler as a gift. We will again rely on our good relationships with the schools and community health workers. Support for our HPV vaccination campaign will go a long way in helping us eliminate cervical cancer.”
The HPV vaccine offers hope for a world free from cervical cancer, and many parents and caregivers are thankful for the vaccination programme – this year and in future.
