Avail free HPV vaccines now

The Cervical Cancer Consciousness Month, observed every month of May as per Proclamation No. 368 signed by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2003, ended yesterday but the campaign against cervical cancer continues in Davao City.

The Davao City Health Office (CHO) will administer free Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination for females starting today, June 1, until Tuesday next week, June 5.

The HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection passed through skin-toskin contact, particularly sexual contact. WHO reported that 99 percent of cervical cancer cases, which is the most common reproductive tract viral infection, are linked to genital infection with HPV.

Persistent genital HPV infections can cause cervical cancer in women.

A Department of Health (DOH) data also shows that 12 Filipino women die due to cervical cancer every day. However, it can be prevented early through screening and vaccination. Girls as young as nine to adults up to 45 years old may avail of the free vaccine against cervical cancer, which is reportedly the second leading cause of death among women next to breast cancer and according to the World Health Organization (WHO), the fourth most common cancer in women.

In a Davao City Information Office (CIO) report, CHO chief Dr. Josephine Villafuerte said 10,000 HPV vaccines that came from the Department of Health are available here.

Thus, Dabawenyas must take this very rare opportunity to avail of the free vaccines as it would be costly to have HPV vaccine shots in private clinics. Each shot may cost as low as P2,000 to P4,500.

For those who could not avail the free vaccine during the five-day schedule of the CHO due to unforeseen circumstances, make sure you get your HPV vaccine shots somewhere else soon. The cost far outweighs the benefits of getting the shots. Just think of it as a gift for yourself, for your mom or for your daughter. After all, investing on your health is always a wise investment.