Ministry must do more to address concerns about vaccination campaign

Dear Editor,

We wish to contribute to the ongoing dispute regarding the vaccination of children in public and private schools, the health effects of vaccines, and the matter of consent. We will be responding more specifically to concerns surrounding the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.

Regarding the safety and efficacy of the HPV vaccine Gardasil, health experts and scientists around the world have rigorously studied the matter for years, all of which essentially demonstrate that the vaccine Gardasil is safe for human consumption and effective against the most common strains of the Human Papillomavirus. Government-funded health institutions, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States, and international health organizations, such as the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), including countless institutions within the scientific community comprising of leading educational institutions and scientific associations, all provide corroborated research to attest to the safety and efficacy of the HPV vaccine.

Side-effects of popular HPV vaccines are not severe, often minor or rare. According to the CDC, the most notable side-effects, if at all, include nausea, muscle aches, a tired feeling, and headaches. Some people may experience fever-like symptoms, but studies have shown no link between getting a fever after being vaccinated and the vaccine as the cause of that fever, since the HPV vaccine contains no trace of a ‘live’ virus to cause fever. Knowing about the safety and efficacy of any vaccine is paramount to alleviating global health risks such as HPV. This brings our attention to the ongoing HPV vaccination campaign throughout Guyana.

The Ministry of Public Health has an ongoing vaccination campaign in schools to have children receive the HPV vaccine. Although this is of resounding importance, equally important too is parents’ awareness of what vaccines aim to do, and how getting their child vaccinated is good not just for their child’s health but everyone’s health too because viruses such as the flu virus and HPV are transmittable, meaning that they can be easily passed from person to person.

Therefore, there is a social responsibility for everyone to get vaccinated, since the efficacy of vaccination in any society depends on the number of people vaccinated. So, a country’s ability to eradicate serious viruses that cause deadly illnesses, such as HPV, depends on people adhering to their social responsibility in ensuring they are healthy and vaccinated.

However, there are a few concerns with the ongoing HPV vaccination campaign led by the Ministry of Public Health. Some have written letters to the editor expressing their dissatisfaction with the way the campaign is being managed and executed. Others have commented on the need for parental consent, and not have the government impose their will as there is no national emergency to warrant mandatory vaccination without consent. These concerns have caused distress and, possibly worse, distrust in the government’s ability to properly execute an important vaccination campaign.

We understand these concerns. Countries that experienced positive outcomes from vaccination campaigns initially, just prior to the mobilization of the campaign, sought to inform and consult with the general public regarding its vaccination plans. Public consultation is an important aspect of any vaccination campaign, especially since misinformation and disinformation regarding the safety of vaccines is abundant on the internet and among people who distrust public institutions. Consequently, people do not know who to trust, and what source(s) of information they should rely on.

Moreover, what is needed to help parents build trust in governmental institutions is to have government representatives work on educational resources to aid with vaccine under-

standing and why it is important to get vaccinated. Understandably, parents need suitable reasons why they should not worry about their child’s wellbeing, which in turn helps them to make an informed decision. Implementing easy to read documentation, such as Vaccine Information Statements (VISs), will certainly help to alleviate concerns about vaccines in general. Along with a VIS form, parents can be given included or separate consent forms indicating that they’ve understood the material and the potential side-effects that may occur. There should be clearly outlined procedures on what parents or guardians need to do in the event of the child experiencing ill-effects after receiving vaccination. This is common practice around the world which helps to improve vaccination efforts.

In conclusion, we feel the public’s concerns are warranted, and we wish to implore the Ministry of Public Health to do more to address these concerns. Promoting educational content will help to better inform the general public. Also, respecting parents’ role and involvement will help to ensure the Ministry’s important vaccination programme succeeds. Yours faithfully,

Nastassia Romanova, MPH Ramona Chanderballi

Ferlin Pedro

Mahendra Doraisami