HPV vaccination: What next beyond rollout?

Finally the five-day nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign successfully ended on Saturday, October 11, and the official statistics show that  about 2.5 million girls aged nine to 14 years were targeted for the vaccination, which was aimed at offering protection for girls against cervical cancer. 

It also formed part of plans by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to introduce HPV vaccine into the routine immunisation schedule of the country after the campaign, making Ghana one of the 28 countries on the continent to have it in their routine immunisation.

The experts say the HPV vaccine is the surest way to protect them as it has been proven to be safe and effective in preventing cervical cancer, with over 140 countries all over the world having already included the vaccine in their national vaccination routine.

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women globally.

About 604,000 new cases and 341,800 deaths are recorded per year globally.

Studies show that 99 per cent of cervical cancer cases are linked to high-risk HPV strains, which are among the common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) worldwide.

In Ghana, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women.

Each year, more than 3,000 women in the country are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and more than half of them die from it.

An estimated 1,815 deaths were recorded in 2022 alone.

Therefore, the nationwide HPV vaccination campaign was indeed good news for the country.

However, the rollout of the HPV vaccine faced some controversy, with some parents and guardians expressing concerns about its safety and effectiveness.

Some parents were hesitant to have their daughters vaccinated due to misinformation on social media. The Minister of

Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Society of Private Medical and Dental Practitioners (SPMDP), UNICEF, among others, have had to come out to endorse the safety of the vaccine.

Although the campaign has ended it is still essential to address the misconceptions and myths surrounding the vaccine since it will become part of the country’s routine immunisation schedule.

The facts are that cervical cancer is a significant health risk and the HPV vaccine is a crucial step in preventing this disease.

The vaccine is safe and effective, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommending it as one of the safest and most effective preventive tools against cervical cancer.

The country’s health experts and the FDA have also approved the vaccine.

Claims that the HPV vaccine causes infertility are unfounded and false.

Countries that introduced the vaccine over a decade ago have seen no link to fertility problems.

Many countries have had successful vaccination programmes.

For instance, Australia has seen significant declines in HPV-related diseases due to high vaccination coverage.

The United States has observed a reduction in anogenital warts and precancerous lesions among younger age group while Sweden linked HPV vaccination to reduced risk of cervical cancer.

In Africa, Rwanda has been a pioneer in introducing the HPV vaccine, launching its national vaccination programme in 2011.

The country has consistently maintained an immunisation coverage of more than 90 per cent, making it one of the countries with the highest HPV vaccination rates in the world.

Studies have shown that the HPV vaccine has been effective in reducing the risk of cervical cancer in Rwanda.

The paper urges parents and guardians to disregard the misinformation surrounding the vaccine and consult credible sources and healthcare professionals for accurate information.

The Daily Graphic notes that there is more work to be done after this nationwide vaccination campaign.

It is important for the Ministry of Health, the Ghana Health Service and all relevant stakeholders to continue with the community engagement by partnering traditional and faith leaders, civil society organisations, educators, media and healthcare workers to mobilise support and promote the vaccine’s benefits.

Furthermore, public awareness campaigns to dispel myths and misconceptions about the vaccine, emphasising its safety and effectiveness in preventing cervical cancer is crucial.

Also, we need to leverage media and social media channels to share human-centred stories, provide expert insights and counter misinformation and encourage parents to prioritise the health of their daughters.

We urge the GHS to continue to utilise schools as a platform for vaccination and education that everyone understands the importance of the vaccine.

The country should also not overlook the establishment of a system to track vaccination coverage and identify areas for improvement.

Vaccines save lives and the country has to sustain the momentum and increase HPV vaccine uptake to protect girls.