Human Papilloma Virus: Adamawa to kick off vaccination from Oct 24 – 28
– Targets 250,000 persons on first day
Adamawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ASPHDA) has concluded arrangements to begin a four day massive vaccination campaign against the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) from 24 – 28 October 2023.
During a round table media discussion with selected media outfits in the state, the executive chairman of the agency, Dr. Sulaiman Saidu Bashir said the state has finished top notch preparations to ensure a hitch free exercise.
According to Bashir, the vaccine is safe, free and effective and will serve as a strong shied to all strands of Human Papilloma Virus especially the cervical cancer.
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He noted that the HPV vaccine works by stimulating the body’s immune
system to produce antibodies against the human Papilloma Virus adding that when a person receives the vaccine, their immune system recognizes the viral proteins in the vaccine and
produces a response that provides protection against HPV.
Bashir added that due to a availability constraints, only girls from the ages of 9 to 14 will be covered in the four day exercise adding that the age group is deliberately selected because the vaccine will give them optimal protection against cervical cancer since girls within the age bracket have not started active sexual life.
He said boys can be given HPV vaccine but quick to reiterate that Nigeria is not
prioritizing them due to high burden of cervical cancer disease in females in Nigeria and the current global shortage of the vaccine.
The Primary Healthcare Development Agency boss said only a single dose of Gardasil, which is the available vaccine in Nigeria will be administered to a girl but added that girls who have contracted HIV/AIDS will get two doses.
He added that the side effects associated with the vaccine are mild and temporary adding that some of the side effects include pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site, as well as fever,
headache, fatigue, and muscle or joint pain.
“HPV vaccine is highly effective at preventing infections from the HPV types covered by the vaccine. It has been shown to provide strong protection against cervical cancer and some
other types of HPV related cancers including genital warts in both males and females.
“The HPV vaccine is most effective when administered before exposure to the virus. However, even if a person has already been exposed to some types of HPV, the vaccine can still work wonders,” he said.
He thanked the media for their interests in the activities of the agency adding that the media has played active role in the success of all its activities in the lead to the HPVV exercise urging the media to sustain the tempo.
In his presentation, the Program Manager, State Emergency On Routine Immunization Coordination Center (SERICC), Titus Tenesse noted that Adamawa State has achieved 99 percent preparations to ensure the success of the vaccination in all areas of preparedness.
He commended all stakeholders for their diligence to ensure that the state has earned national applause due to their commitment to the success of preparations in all thematic areas including training of staff, micro planning, funding, logistics and ACSM adding that in most of the areas the state has recorded 100% success on national matrix dashboard.
Tenesse also lauded governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa for his concern and responsive leadership especially to the healthcare services which made him to avail the state’s counterpart funding towards the success of the preparation exercise.
He said so far, 258,041 doses of the vaccine are available and will be deployed to all the 21 local governments of the state before 15th of October, 2023. He also noted that 42,000 doses have been kept aside as buffer for girls yet to be reached during the four day exercise.
