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HPV Vaccine Campaign Expands to Include Meningococcal protection for Students
HPV vaccine coverage remains a concern for public health officials. While the HPV vaccine (Gardasil) prevents 90% of infections, only 48% of girls and 24.5% of boys aged 16 completed the two-dose series in 2024. This falls short of the national goal of 80% coverage by 2030. To improve access,a free,optional HPV vaccination program was launched in September 2023 for students in the fifth grade.
Building on this success, public health authorities are extending the vaccination program to include protection against invasive Meningococcal Acwy infections. A recent increase in these infections prompted the Ministry of Health to recommend ACWY meningococcal vaccination for all adolescents aged 11-14, with a catch-up option available up to age 24. this vaccine will now be offered alongside HPV vaccination to fifth-grade students. A single dose provides effective and long-lasting protection.
Vaccination sessions in fifth-grade classrooms will take place between January and June. HPV vaccination will be administered over two school years,with a maximum of 13 months between the first dose (given in fifth grade) and the second dose (given in sixth grade). Students who have received thier first dose elsewhere can receive the second dose at school. The single-dose ACWY meningococcal vaccine can be offered during either of these two years.Co-management of both vaccines during the same session is possible.Parental consent is required for participation.
These vaccinations are free and covered by health insurance, administered by mobile vaccination teams. The campaigns promoting vaccination are expected to increase demand for vaccinations in general, including at pharmacies. Initial results suggest the school-based HPV vaccination program is encouraging, leading to an overall increase in vaccination rates among 11-12 year olds, nonetheless of where the vaccination is administered. Public health officials also believe this initiative will improve vaccination rates for other recommended vaccines in this age group, such as measles-mumps-rubella, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, and hepatitis B.
