THE Ministry of Health and Wellness has announced plans to ramp up its public education campaign around the cancer prevention benefits of the the HPV vaccine for teen girls and boys, in light of the setback the HPV vaccination programme suffered due to the coronavirus pandemic and other factors including lack of awareness.

The HPV — human papillomavirus — vaccine has been shown to prevent up to 70 per cent of cervical cancers. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also reveal that HPV infections can cause cancers of the cervix, vagina, and vulva, penis, anus, back of the throat (called oropharyngeal cancer), including the base of the tongue and tonsils.

Acting director, Family Health Unit, Ministry of Health and Wellness Dr Julia Rowe Porter told reporters and editors at a Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange that the campaign will be done in conjunction with the Ministry of Education and Youth and private sector partners.

“With the HPV vaccination, we were accelerating the introduction in 2018/2019. It was a primarily school-based vaccination programme. So when schools shuttered, it significantly affected the programme. Now that schools are in, we are going to get back on track with the Ministry of Education as close partners. In the meantime, the health departments will organise sessions through the vaccination in school [initiative].

“We want to do a robust public education campaign, because education is key, so that persons are aware of [the importance of ] the vaccine, and awareness about HPV is not where it ought to be. I think that’s one of the challenges and I believe that once the population is aware, then we won’t have as much of a challenge,” Dr Rowe Porter said.

She noted that in Jamaica, there is great concern about the deadly cervical cancer, which is the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths, but it is preventable with the HPV vaccine. She pointed out that some countries “have essentially eliminated cervical cancer because they have such a robust HPV vaccination programme for their children as well as pap smears and other screenings”.

According to the Pan American Health Authority (PAHO), cervical cancer, which is curable if caught early, kills 22 in every 100,000 women in Jamaica; and according to the World Health Organization (WHO), in more than 95 per cent of cases, cervical cancer is caused by HPV, which can be sexually transmitted.

Dr Rowe Porter said that based on the data the ministry collected during its previous campaign, parents see the value of vaccination against HPV, but they need more information to put them at ease.

“Information is key for them, so we are committed to providing that, working with not just the schools, but private partners as well, [including] our private doctors to work with them to have the vaccine given in a private setting so that the access is enhanced for everyone that needs to get it and to get additional information from their health-care providers in the private sector as well,” she said.

Dr Rowe Porter said that while HPV vaccination has been continuing, the schedule has changed where the vaccine is now being offered to girls, nine to 26 years old. The national HPV vaccination programme had initially targeted girls aged 11 to 12.

“We extended the age range that we give the vaccines. We are also offering it to boys, aged nine to 12. The number of doses has actually decreased in terms of how many shots are needed…One dose can be given to children, nine to 14 years. The data is showing that one dose needs to be given to children that are younger, because their immune system responds to it better. For girls, 15 to 26, two doses are needed,” she said.

According to an article published in the Lancet Regional Health – Americas journal in 2021, the national HPV programme was met with resistance due to “poor planning, inadequate communication, and public distrust of the HPV vaccine”.

It said misconceptions about HPV vaccination were fuelled by social media including fears of infertility, indirect coercion into early sexual activity and concerns about side effects.

“Inadequate sensitisation prior to roll-out of the HPV vaccine resulted in lack of engagement and buy-in of key stakeholders, including school administrators, religious leaders and community leaders. Approximately 30 per cent of adolescent girls in Jamaica are vaccinated but a lack of standardised data collection tools threatens the validity of estimated HPV vaccination coverage,” the article stated.

It noted however that despite these setbacks, elimination of cervical cancer is a realistic and important goal for Jamaica and other low- or middle-income countries (LMICs).

“Approaches to improving HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening in low resource settings are well-documented. Extensive educational efforts in communities, public messaging and mobilisation of key stakeholders improves HPV vaccination coverage. Mass media campaigns with “cue to action” targeting women and health-care providers, smaller culturally sensitive group education, personal invitation letter approaches and automated reminders increase cervical cancer screening coverage in some LMIC,” the article said.