Parents urged to give consent for learner vaccination
It would be a serious indictment on government and parents if even a single one of these young girls is later in life diagnosed with this perfectly preventable condition.
IF you have a girl child who is in Grade Four and is around nine years and above, the City of Johannesburg is urging you to give your consent to have her vaccinated against the human papillomavirus (HPV).
Health workers have begun visiting primary and special schools in the city in all seven regions to administer the vaccine to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer.
The city urges parents and/or guardians to give consent for their girls to receive this life-saving intervention. It would be a serious indictment on government and parents if even a single one of these young girls is later in life diagnosed with this perfectly preventable condition.
The vaccine is being administered in two doses. The first dose (HPV1) started on February 5 and will continue until March 22. The second dose (HPV2) will resume on August 6 and will continue until September 20. To be vaccinated, learners need to produce consent forms signed by parents/guardians.
HPV causes almost 80 per cent of cervical cancer. The virus can infect genitals and cause warts or cervical and other cancers. Early detection and vaccination help prevent the virus from developing in the cervix. The vaccine (Cervarix) demonstrated the efficacy of 90.4 per cent against type 16 and 18 cancer lesions.
Cervical cancer is one of the greatest threats to women’s health. At least one woman is diagnosed with cervical cancer every minute, and each year more than 300 000 women die of the pandemic.
The annual campaign started in 2014 in the City of Johannesburg and is done in partnership with the National Department of Health and basic education department. The vaccine has been used in more than 130 countries globally.
Parents are urged to sign and return the consent forms. No learner will be vaccinated without parental consent.
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