Health Officials Encourage Parents to Vaccinate Children Against HPV

After a national uptake of just 4% in 2022, the parish of West Miland is boosting Jamaica's Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination campaign as it recorded 97% coverage of its target population in 2025. That's according to Senior Public Health nurse for family health in the Westmoreland Public Health Service Georgia Foster.

 

She says there are plans to expand the campaign to other parishes.

 

HPV is a very common virus that spreads mainly through intimate skin-to-skin contact, including sexual contact.

 

The government of Jamaica has been encouraging parents to vaccinate their children against HPV from as early as 9-yearsold. Foster, says the HPV vaccine is a safe and effective way to protect children from several cancers and other diseases.

 

 

 

 

 

 

She said, “The younger you are, the greater it is for you to develop immunity because your immune system is strong and it's an excellent way of building immunity. Also, the younger you get the eight the vaccine the less dosage you need because of how effective the vaccine is at the early stage of your life. Also, it is important for you to for us to protect our children and they are the most vulnerable and the earlier you get it before you are exposed the better it is.”

 

Addressing concerns about the safety and effectiveness of the HPV vaccine, the senior public health nurse says the vaccine has undergone extensive testing and has been proven to be highly effective.

 

“And that is why the government of Jamaica is ensuring that our children get vaccinated to decrease and eliminate cervical cancer and the other cancer that can be caused by bacteria.”

 

Nurse Foster explains that while some people experience no symptoms after receiving the vaccine, others may develop mild side effects such as soreness at the injection site or a low-grade fever. She advises that anyone who experiences severe or unusual symptoms should seek medical attention.

 

“And this is important because it also shows us that the body is building that resistance and gaining immunity against this virus. So those are the main thing that you would see a little soreness at the area little fever and a little pain. If there's anything else other than those three common side effects, then you can seek medical attention.”

 

Noting that the vaccine is available at all public health facilities free of cost, Nurse Foster highlighted that there's an increase in the number of parents taking their children to receive the HPV vaccine.

 

“We have seen an increase in the uptake of the HPV vaccine. Parents are more accepting. As a matter of fact, we had a 97% coverage of the target that we needed in Westmoreland in 2025, and we are hoping to see the uptake increasing in 2026. What we want to do is protect our children before they are exposed. And so, we are doing all that we can. We are participating in outreach activities. We will be checking the school. We will be doing our school programs. And we are working along with the teachers and the school nurses in ensuring that our children are protected.”