PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The Health department has reported that over 400 adolescent girls in the Dehradun district had been vaccinated with the HPV vaccine till May 5. The Dehradun chief medical officer Dr Manoj Kumar Sharma stated that the HPV vaccination programme, aimed at preventing cervical cancer, was recently initiated under the Central government. Approximately 17,000 doses of the HPV vaccine have been received for the Dehradun district and these have been distributed to all hospitals down to the primary health centre level.
Sharma informed that from February 28 to May 5, over 400 adolescent girls, particularly those aged 14 to 15, had received the vaccine. He emphasised that the government is providing this vaccine free of charge to protect the health of females. However, he noted that they have faced challenges during the vaccination process. Parental consent is necessary for the girls to receive the vaccine, and many parents have been hesitant, fearing it could pose risks to their daughters’ fertility.
To address these misconceptions, the Health department has been conducting awareness programmes in schools, informing students and indirectly their parents about the importance of the HPV vaccine. This initiative has been implemented in several schools, he said. Sharma pointed out that cervical cancer typically occurs in women aged 30 and older, with symptoms such as abnormal bleeding and pain during intercourse. He urged parents to take their daughters, aged 14 to 15, to the HPV vaccination centre at Gandhi Shatabdi Eye Hospital, which is open from 8 AM to 8 PM, as well as to other hospitals at the primary health centre level. Sharma reassured parents that the vaccine is safe.
During the awareness programmes held in schools, the CMO encouraged the public not to pay attention to rumors regarding the vaccine and to take proactive steps to protect adolescent girls from cervical cancer. For more information about the vaccine, they can contact the toll-free number 104.
