The Western Cape Department of Health’s School-based vaccination programme started on Monday 20 February.
The purpose of the programme is aimed at reducing vaccine preventable diseases. Health-care workers are set to visit schools to implement this until Friday 31 March.
One of the vaccines include the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. The measles vaccine has also been introduced. According to Shimoney Rechter, spokesperson of the Western Cape Health Department, this is necessary in their commitment to ensure healthy and thriving children as they grow up. She said that the HPV vaccine is being offered to girls in Grade 5 over the age of nine years.
“The HPV vaccine protects against the most common causes of cervical and some other cancers and genital warts in females and males. Two doses are needed for the best protection. These are given on two different days, six months apart.”
Choosing to stay anonymous, a resident from Vredenburg shared with Weslander her insight into HPV. Undergoing her first pap-smear examination at the age of 26 the doctor detected abnormal cells in her womb, which were removed through a minor surgical procedure.
“It is important that we go for these kinds of check-ups, because cancer is very common. Pap smears help with early detection among woman. Now I go regularly for check-ups.”
The resident, however, feels it is parents’ choice when it comes the decision of the vaccine. She encourages parents to become more informed about the virus, how it is transmitted and have a conversation with their children about it.
Abigail Adonis from Swellendam said as a parent, and as a woman, she has full confidence in the HPV vaccine for girls. “It was the best decision that I could taken for my daughter, to receive a vaccine that prevents cancer.”
Sonja Botha, coordinator of the Western Cape Expanded Programme on Immunisation, said her organisation hoped to boost vaccine acceptability by providing access to trusted sources of information via school nurses or other officials. “This enables one to engage parents meaningfully and address their concerns,” she explained.
According to Rechter, most side-effects from vaccination are minor and quickly disappear. “Severe allergic reactions are rare. If any reaction is severe or persistent, or if you are worried about your child, contact your health-care worker or doctor.”
