First phase of vaccination campaign to commence

The City of Johannesburg’s (COJ) Department of Health, in conjunction with the Gauteng Department of Health, will start the first phase of their vaccination campaign on 21 February.

The aim of the campaign is to provide school-going girls with the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine and also includes deworming. The first dose (HPV1) is planned to be administered between 21 February and 28 March. The second dose (HPV2) will be administered between 22 August and 27 September.

The campaign – which started in 2014 – has been undertaken annually under the theme Protecting South African Girls against Cancer of the Cervix. The vaccine is administered in a schedule of two doses (with a six-month interval) and targets young girls in Grade 4, who are nine years old. The campaign runs in all public schools and includes special schools as well.

The purpose of this intervention is to prevent cervical cancer and also to protect learners against worm infestations. Almost 80 per cent of cervical cancers are caused by HPV, and the vaccine prevents the virus from developing on the cervix.

“The City of Johannesburg’s Department of Health officials will visit public and special education schools during the campaign to administer free HPV vaccination to girls in Grade 4. According to the National Cancer Registry, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in South Africa, and as the city, we are committed to ensuring that our young girls receive the care they deserve, in order to prevent cervical cancer,” said councillor Mpho Phalatse, the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Health and Social Development in the City of Johannesburg.

Educators, supported by professional nurses, will administer deworming vaccinations to learners from Grades R to 7 in quintile one to three schools. “Parents need to ensure that they have signed and returned the consent forms which they will receive from the school that their child attends. No learner will be vaccinated without parental consent,” said Doctor Mary Daka, Deputy Director for Public Health in the City of Johannesburg.

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