Gauteng Health Department rolls out HPV vaccine campaign in schools

Mapaballo Borotho

health worker injection — Health worker holding injection / Pexels

The Gauteng Department of Health is rolling out an HPV vaccination campaign targeting girls aged 9 to 15 in schools across the province.
Parents are urged to sign consent forms, though learners aged 12 and older can legally give their own assent.
Grade 5 learners will also receive a Tdap booster to strengthen immunity against preventable diseases.

The Gauteng Department of Health has announced the rollout of its Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign, urging parents and legal guardians to support this initiative aimed at protecting school-aged girls from cervical cancer.

In a statement released on Sunday, the campaign will target girls aged 9 to 15 across all schools in the province.

“Vaccinating girls before the age of 15 significantly reduces the risk of developing cervical cancer later in life,” the Department stated.

“The vaccine being administered, Cervarix, is safe and highly effective against HPV types 16 and 18, which cause over 70% of cervical cancer cases.”

Parents and guardians are encouraged to promptly sign and return consent forms to ensure their children are not left out of the campaign.

Learners aged 12 and above may legally provide their own assent if parental consent is not obtained.

During the 2024/25 financial year, the Department achieved a 91.7% vaccination rate among eligible girls. Those who missed the previous round due to age or absence will be included in this year’s catch-up campaign.

In addition to the HPV vaccine, Grade 5 boys and girls will also receive a booster dose of the Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Acellular Pertussis (Tdap) vaccine.

“This booster is vital in preventing potential outbreaks and complements earlier doses given at ages 6 and 12. The Tdap and HPV vaccines are safe to administer together”, the Department confirmed.