Eunice Mwende’s battle with cervical cancer has highlighted the crucial need for parents to get their daughters vaccinated against the disease. Despite going for annual screenings, Mwende was diagnosed with cervical cancer in its early stages, prompting her to take swift action. As a mother of two teenage girls, she made the decision to have them vaccinated to protect their future health.
The Kenya Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society (KOGS) strongly supports the use of the cervical cancer vaccine, as it targets the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), responsible for over 95% of all cervical cancer cases. Dr. Elly Odongo, gynaecological oncologist and CEO of KOGS, explained that HPV infects the cervix primarily through sexual intercourse and can lead to changes in the genetic material of cervical cells over a period of 10 to 30 years.
Recognizing the urgency of addressing cervical cancer, the World Health Organization (WHO) has set a goal to vaccinate at least 90% of girls by the age of 15. In line with this, Kenya introduced the HPV vaccine into its routine immunization schedule, targeting all 10-year-old girls in the country since 2019.
However, the uptake of the vaccine has fallen short of the target. As of 2023, only around 56% of eligible girls had received the first jab, and just 28% had received the recommended second jab. Several studies have revealed misconceptions among parents about the vaccine, with concerns ranging from fears of promiscuity to doubts about its safety.
To counter these misconceptions, it is vital to emphasize that the vaccine is both safe and effective. Cervical cancer continues to be the deadliest cancer among women in Kenya, claiming the lives of over 3,200 women annually. Dr. Odongo emphasizes the importance of HPV vaccination, urging all parents to take their daughters for the vaccine to protect them from cervical cancer in the future.
The recommended age for vaccination, initially set at 10 years old, has since been expanded to include girls between the ages of 10 and 14. Dr. Odongo explains that administering the vaccine before HPV infection occurs yields optimal results. Girls within this age range are typically not sexually active and therefore less likely to have been infected with HPV.
A study conducted by Cancer Research UK in November 2021 supported this notion, revealing that the impact of the vaccine decreases when administered at older ages. The study demonstrated a reduction in cervical cancer rates of 34% for those vaccinated between 16 and 18 years, 62% for girls vaccinated between 14 and 16 years, and a significant 87% reduction for those vaccinated between 12 and 13 years, compared to unvaccinated individuals.
The vaccine currently provided by the Kenyan government is a quadrivalent vaccine, targeting four variants of HPV: types 6, 11, 16, and 18. This vaccine offers protection against the most common strains of HPV that cause cervical cancer.
In conclusion, it is crucial for parents to understand the importance of HPV vaccination for their daughters. With cervical cancer remaining a significant threat to women’s health in Kenya, the vaccine offers a powerful tool in the fight against this deadly disease. By taking the initiative to vaccinate their teenage girls, parents can help protect them from the devastating impact of cervical cancer in the future.
