Ghana Health Service Assures Public: HPV Vaccine Safe, Does Not Impact Fertility
Accra – The Ghana Health Service (GHS) is actively working to dispel misinformation surrounding the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, with a leading health official emphatically stating it does not cause infertility or promote early sexual activity. Dr. Selorm Kutsoati, Programme Manager of the Expanded programme on Immunization at the GHS, addressed these concerns on GTV’s Breakfast Show on Wednesday, September 24, 2025.
“This vaccine has been used globally for almost 20 years and in Ghana for over a decade.It is indeed safe, it does not affect fertility, and it does not give anyone a license to be sexually active,” Dr. Kutsoati stressed.
The reassurance comes ahead of a nationwide HPV vaccination campaign scheduled to begin on October 7, 2025, aiming to reach 2.5 million girls. The five-day campaign will afterward integrate the HPV vaccine into Ghana’s routine immunization program.Health teams will be deployed to schools, communities, and remote areas to ensure thorough coverage, including for girls with disabilities.
Dr. Kutsoati highlighted that HPV is the primary cause of cervical cancer, a critically important health concern for women in ghana, frequently enough diagnosed at advanced stages due to a lack of early symptoms. She explained that chronic HPV infections can lead to cervical cancer 10 to 20 years after initial exposure, and that factors like early sexual activity, multiple partners, alcohol use, and smoking can increase susceptibility.
Importantly,Dr. Kutsoati noted that recent research demonstrates a single dose of the HPV vaccine is now proven effective, a change from the previous three-dose schedule. She emphasized vaccination as the most effective preventative measure, describing it as a “low-hanging fruit” compared to the costs and accessibility challenges of screening and treatment.
Symptoms of advanced cervical cancer include bloody or foul-smelling discharge and constipation with bleeding. The GHS rollout builds on over a decade of HPV vaccination experience in Ghana and nearly two decades of global use, with no reported link to infertility.
