The HPV vaccine is available in South Africa. Adolescent girls attending public schools between the ages of 9-14 years now have free access to the HPV vaccine through the National Department of Health HPV Vaccine Programme. Parents will receive a letter requesting their permission for their daughter(s) to receive the vaccine.
Girls who are not in public schools are encouraged to get the vaccine through their general practitioner, or pharmacy.
South Africa’s HPV vaccination programme forms part of global efforts by the World Health Organization to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health threat by 2030.
The first step towards this goal is to have 90% of girls fully vaccinated against HPV by the age of 15.
With wide vaccination coverage of girls over the age of nine, it’s possible to eliminate HPV causing cancer, in the next few years.
Females may be vaccinated up to the age of 26 years and this is critical in preventing them from contracting the virus, which in turn will be an effective prevention measure for cervical cancer.
Not Only for Girls
The school-based HPV vaccination campaign is currently available to girls only. However, boys aged 9 and older, are encouraged to get the HPV vaccine and caregivers should approach their general practitioner to find out more.
Male circumcision also has protective effects against the prevalence and clearance of HPV infections at the glans penis and thus protects female partners from contracting HPV.
