Only 75% of young girls immunised against HPV |20 December 2014

Out of the 695 young girls aged between 10 and 12 who were due to be immunised against the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) this year, only 531 or a little more than 75% of them have taken the vaccine.

This was revealed during a presentation at the Seychelles Hospital yesterday afternoon, after a World Health Organisation (WHO) expert team had carried out an evaluation following the introduction of the vaccine in primary six classes of all public and private schools in the country.

The first dose of the HPV vaccine was administered in May and the second only last month.

HPV is largely responsible for causing cervical cancer and genital warts and the diseases are considered as major health concerns by the local authorities.

The low inoculation statistics are thus surely alarming. It is to be noted that no side or adverse effects have been reported among the girls who have opted for the immunisation.

The WHO exercise on its part, is a routine procedure after the introduction of a new vaccine in any member state. The aim of such an evaluation is to collect and analyse information on the introduction process and make recommendations for improvement. As part of the assessment, the evaluation party has been visiting clinics and schools and interviewing technical staff, teachers and parents.

Dr David Manyanga, a HPV consultant from Tanzania and head of the expert team, blamed a lack of sensitisation in schools and among parents as the main cause of the low response. This is because as he pointed out, 25% of the parents concerned had not given their consent for the immunisation.

He commented that such was the situation in spite of a strong commitment from the Seychelles government which had showed political will by introducing the programme, investing in relevant training and providing the vaccine free of charge.

The evaluation team has consequently recommended that an appropriate sensitisation programme is conducted with parents and teachers. They have also proposed the appointment of a HPV programme manager who will ensure proper planning and strengthen the supervision process.

As the programme is currently functioning without proper cervical cancer control and prevention guidelines nor a communication plan, it will also be the manager’s responsibility to put these into place.

Among other findings, the experts have noted the inadequate utilisation of regional nurse managers, resulting in the necessity to train those nurses. They also say that it is necessary to revise the data collection tools and consider electronic registration.

For the longer term, they have advised to start vaccinating children as from 9 years and to pass on to three doses of vaccine.