Westmoreland hits 97% HPV vaccine coverage as Jamaica pushes child immunisation

Westmoreland has become a standout in Jamaica’s drive to raise human papillomavirus (HPV) immunisation rates, reaching 97% of its target population in 2025 after national uptake stood at only 4% in 2022, according to senior public health nurse for family health in the Westmoreland Public Health Service, Georgia Foster.

Health authorities say the parish’s results are informing plans to extend the campaign elsewhere. HPV is widespread and is transmitted mainly through intimate skin-to-skin contact, including sexual contact. The Government has been urging parents to have children vaccinated from as early as nine years of age.

Foster said the HPV vaccine is a safe, effective protection against several cancers and related illnesses. She explained that younger recipients tend to build stronger immunity because their immune systems respond well at that stage of life, and that starting early can also mean fewer doses are required. Vaccinating before any exposure, she stressed, is especially important for children, who are among the most vulnerable.

On safety, Foster said the vaccine has been extensively tested and shown to be highly effective. She linked the national push to efforts to cut and eventually eliminate cervical cancer and other cancers linked to HPV.

Some people have no reaction after the shot, while others may notice mild effects such as soreness at the injection site, a slight fever, or mild pain. Foster advised anyone with severe or unusual symptoms beyond those common responses to seek medical care.

The vaccine is offered free of charge at all public health facilities. Foster said more parents in Westmoreland are accepting the jab, reflecting the 97% coverage of the parish target in 2025, and that officials hope uptake will climb further in 2026.

To reach children before they are exposed, the Westmoreland team is running outreach, visiting schools, and partnering with teachers and school nurses so more pupils are protected.