The Department of Health and Wellness has approved the administering of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine, as part of its immunization schedule at schools on the island.

Girls and boys aged eleven and twelve years are expected to benefit from the HPV vaccine, which will protect them from HPV-caused cancers, and in particular cervical cancer.

Dr. Sharon Belmar-George, the Medical Officer in the Ministry of Health, said that immunization remains the most cost-effective health program for preventing diseases.

“We have successfully been able to eradicate and prevent a lot of vaccine-preventable diseases over the years,” she said.

Dr. George also stressed the importance of sensitizing the public on the benefits of vaccines.

“Public access to accurate information is really important because it assists the decisions that people make for themselves and for their families,” she said. “Over the last few years, we have been working on expanding the vaccination program with the introduction of the birth dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine, and also the introduction of the HPV vaccine. We are actually behind a lot of the other islands in the region who have already successfully introduced this vaccine.”

For girls and boys starting the HPV vaccination, the vaccine of choice is Gardasil, which will be administered in two doses at least six months apart. Routine informed consent will be maintained.

Julietta Frederick Casius, the Immunization Manager in the Ministry of Health explained the intent behind the early administration of the vaccine.

“Once a person receives a vaccine, we expect the body to react to it and to produce the antibodies that will be effective enough to be able to protect that individual from the disease,” she said. “The purpose of vaccination is to ensure that there are high levels of immunity in the population to protect against specific diseases.”

The Department of Health is urging all parents to sign up their girls and boys for the HPV vaccine as it is a safe and reliable way to protect against cancer.