By Evans Worlanyo Ameamu
Keta (VR) Oct. 10, GNA-Madam Dora Kugbonu, the Public Health Nurse at the Keta Municipal Health Directorate in the Volta Region, has debunked misconceptions that the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is injurious to humans emphasising on the falsity of the claim.
She said the vaccine was important and targeted prevention of cervical cancer among young girls between the ages of 9 to 14 before they were exposed to HPV.
Madam Kugbonu disclosed that the HPV vaccine was a crucial in the fight against cervical cancer, which was a significant health concerned for women and getting vaccinated would enable young girls to get protected from the virus that causes cervical cancer.
“We are hearing a lot of myths and misconceptions about the HPV vaccination, and l want to make it clear that they are just false statements that are trying to make our work difficult, we urge the public to debunk it,” she said.
She explained that trained health officials were working tirelessly in educating the public about the importance of HPV vaccination and disregarded the misconceptions and urged individuals to assist in spreading the education programme in the municipality and beyond.
Madam Kugbonu encouraged parents and guardians to learn more about the benefits of the vaccine and allow their daughters to get vaccinated, adding that,” the vaccine is tested and approve, it is safe and effective in preventing cervical cancer disease among our girls.”
“We are administering the HPV vaccine for girls aged 9-14 years to provide them with a lifelong protection against the virus, we plead with parents to take advantage of this opportunity to protect their daughters.”
She said that cervical cancer was a preventable disease, and the HPV vaccine was a crucial step in prevention it and charged the public to work together to help reduce the incidence of cervical cancer and promote a healthier community.
She said that well trained health officials who were committed to ensure the health and well-being of the communities were initiating the HPV vaccination exercise which commenced on Tuesday, October 7, to October 11, which were safe and effective way to prevent cervical cancer.
She said the misconceptions surrounding the HPV vaccine were unfounded and misguided and urged parents, guardians, and the public to consult healthcare professionals for accurate information about the vaccine.
She mentioned some myths being speculated include HPV vaccine causes infertility, promote promiscuity, vaccine not effective, vaccine not necessary if one is not sexually active, vaccine has severe side effects, and vaccine is too new to be safe and added that they were all baseless, unfounded and totally untrue.
She said spreading the awareness campaign and getting vaccinated could create a healthier community and reduce the incidence of cervical cancer among
The vaccination is targeting over 500 girls within the municipality where health officials are administering the vaccination in schools, churches, houses, among others.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Linda Asante Agyei