KNYSNA NEWS - The Western Cape Department of Health believes in the importance of improving women’s health. For that reason the second round of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations will be rolled out from 11 August to 4 September 2015 at all public and special schools across the Western Cape. During this round health teams will provide dose 1 and 2 to all eligible girls.
If your daughter wasn’t 9 years old yet during the first round of vaccinations in March 2015, or did not return the signed consent form to their school, they’ll now also have the opportunity to receive the first dose of the vaccination.
To provide the best protection against this virus, 2 doses of the vaccine need to be administered. If your daughter will receive her first dose during this round you must ensure that she receives the second dose during 2016.
Why is the HPV vaccination necessary?
HPV is the virus that causes cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is the second most prevalent cancer among women after breast cancer, and close to 80% of cervical cancer is caused by HPV.
The vaccination protects girls from being infected by HPV and reduces the risk of developing HPV related cervical cancer later in life. The younger your daughter is, the better her body’s immune system can respond to the vaccine, resulting in the production of protective antibodies against the virus.
Western Cape Minister of Health, Dr Nomafrench Mbombo, stated: ”It is imperative that we encourage parents to vaccinate their daughters. Maternal and child health forms part of the quadruple burden of disease.
The focus is prevention and promotion rather than curative. That is why we appeal to all grade 4 girls to inform their parents, guardians and extended families that the vaccination is available.”
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