Keta: Madam Dora Kugbonu, the Public Health Nurse at the Keta Municipal Health Directorate in the Volta Region, has addressed the misconceptions surrounding the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, asserting that claims of it being harmful are false. She emphasized the importance of the vaccine in preventing cervical cancer in young girls aged 9 to 14 before exposure to HPV.

According to Ghana News Agency, Madam Kugbonu highlighted that the HPV vaccine plays a crucial role in combating cervical cancer, a significant health concern for women. She stressed the need for vaccination to protect young girls from the virus responsible for cervical cancer. “We are hearing a lot of myths and misconceptions about the HPV vaccination, and I want to make it clear that they are just false statements that are trying to make our work difficult,” she stated.

Trained health officials are actively educating the public on the importance of HPV vaccination, dismissing misconceptions, and urging individuals to support the educational efforts within and beyond the municipality. Madam Kugbonu encouraged parents and guardians to understand the vaccine’s benefits and allow their daughters to be vaccinated, assuring that the vaccine is tested, approved, safe, and effective.

The vaccination initiative targets girls aged 9-14 years, providing lifelong protection against the virus. Madam Kugbonu appealed to parents to seize this opportunity to safeguard their daughters’ health. She underscored that cervical cancer is preventable and the HPV vaccine is a critical step towards its prevention.

The HPV vaccination exercise, conducted by well-trained health officials, commenced on Tuesday, October 7, and will continue until October 11. It is a safe and effective method to prevent cervical cancer. Madam Kugbonu urged the public to seek accurate information from healthcare professionals and disregard unfounded myths about the vaccine.

Misconceptions such as the HPV vaccine causing infertility, promoting promiscuity, being ineffective, unnecessary for those not sexually active, having severe side effects, or being too new to be safe, were all deemed baseless by Madam Kugbonu. She emphasized the importance of spreading awareness and getting vaccinated to foster a healthier community and reduce cervical cancer incidence.

The vaccination campaign aims to reach over 500 girls within the municipality, with health officials administering the vaccine in schools, churches, and homes.