HPV fight a gear up
GOVERNMENT will administer human papilloma virus (HPV) and measles rubella (MR) vaccines to children in May and June 2019 respectively, a Government official has said.
The vaccinations were first introduced for girls between 10 and 14 years of age for HPV, and children between nine months and 15 years for MR.
Health and Child Care Ministry Expanded Programme on Immunisation (routine vaccinations) manager Mrs Joana Marembo said, “We have planned to administer the HPV vaccine in May 2019, targeting girls between 10 and 14 years nationwide.
“We vaccinated at least 780 000 girls this year, with the addition of the new girls who will be 10 years old next year we are looking towards vaccinating a million girls in total.”
Mrs Marembo said Government would administer HPV vaccines annually to girls before they became sexually active. Girls living with HIV would get three vaccinations against HPV.
She added that the Health Ministry wanted to vaccinate at least 1,8 million children during the week-long campaign against MR.
Mrs Marembo said First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa was playing an integral part in the Cervical Cancer Screening Programme (VIAC).