Cancer: AP Administers HPV Vaccine to 1.02 Lakh Girls Against Target of 3.45 Lakh
Also, the vaccine is not administered to the girls when they are in an empty stomach, to avoid health issues like giddiness, vomiting etc.
Vijayawada:The Andhra Pradesh government has administered Human Papillomavirus (HPV) to 1.02 lakh girls aged upto 14 years against the target of 3.45 lakh girls in the state so far.
This is a safeguard against cervical and other types of cancers and the genital warts affecting women.
Part of a national-level endeavour, AP has started the HPV vaccination programme on February 28. With the Class X examinations being in progress, there is some delay in administering the vaccine, as the girls are busy preparing for the exams. The programme would continue through April and May.
The health personnel are checking the medical history and health condition of the girls before administering the vaccine. Issues like developing allergy to the yeast and previous history of developing health issues after vaccination are examined in each case.
Also, the vaccine is not administered to the girls when they are in an empty stomach, to avoid health issues like giddiness, vomiting etc. After administering the vaccine, the girls are made to wait for 30 minutes in the hospital for observation. The vaccine is being administered after taking consent from the girls’ parents.
AP has got nearly 1.90 lakh doses of HPV so far and the remaining doses are expected to be delivered by the time the existing stocks get exhausted.
The central government is supplying the HPV vaccine to AP. Before its delivery, the vaccine undergoes quality tests at the central drugs laboratory at Kasauli in Himachal Pradesh.
AP health director Dr K Padmavathi said, “We have not received any complaints of health issues after administering the vaccine to the girls. However, there is a chance of developing some redness on the skin where the vaccine is injected and some feel giddy, but there are no major health issues.”
The HPV vaccination state nodal officer BLHS Devi said, “We have adequate doses of HPV vaccine as of now and we are storing them in Ice Lined Refrigerators at all health centres.”