The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has announced that it will initiate the second phase of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine rollout in 21 states to reduce HPV-related diseases.
Phase one included the following states: Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, FCT, Jigawa, Kano, Kebbi, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ogun, Ondo, and Taraba.
Dr. Rufai Garba, Director of Disease Control and Immunization at NPHCDA, announced this during a meeting in Abuja with Women’s Religious Groups, including the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ).
The HPV vaccine helps protect against infections that can cause health issues such as genital warts and cancers of the cervix, anus, and throat.
It is most effective when given before individuals become sexually active. Health professionals typically recommend administering the vaccine to preteens around ages 11 or 12, but it’s possible to administer it as early as nine and up to age 26.
Garba mentioned that the second phase of the vaccine rollout will cover Anambra, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Kaduna, Katsina, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Ondo, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara.
Despite the resistance encountered during the first phase, he expressed hope for public cooperation.
He noted that anti-vaccine groups spread misinformation to discourage vaccination. Nevertheless, the country has sufficient vaccine supplies, and distribution to states has begun, with the rollout set for May 27, 2024, he stated.
Garba emphasised the need for preemptive public education to counter misinformation, drawing on past experiences with resistance to polio vaccines.
He called on journalists to help ensure accurate information reaches the public, stressing that every girl aged 9 to 14 deserves protection from HPV, which can lead to cervical cancer.
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