The Federal Government has debunked myths making the rounds that claims that the Human Papilloma Virus vaccine is intended to reduce fertility in girls.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Dr Uche Nwokwu, the acting Director, Clinical Services, National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, dismissed such claims on Wednesday.
The acting NICRAT director explained that though the vaccine could have some mild side effects like every medicine, the side effects would be explained on the leaflets of the vaccine.
Nwokwu said “the myth about the vaccine reducing the fertility of girls is out of place and not true, which are the reasons people are afraid.
“At the point where the inoculation is done, there could be some reaction around the area; it could be pain of injection, someone may have mild fever, these are side effects of the vaccine but it is not something that should discourage anybody from getting it.
“The benefits of the vaccine are greater than the minor fever reactions at the site of the injection and does not reduce the person’s fertility.
“Also, there is no known long term effects discovered and for now; there is no evidence that it has any adverse effects.”
HPV is a virus that transmits through skin-to-skin contact and can develop in anyone who is sexually active.
HPV is a primary cause of cervical cancer and other cancers, including cancer of the vulva, vagina, penis, or anus, and by protecting young girls before exposure to the virus, it can reduce incidences of the devastating disease significantly.
The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in partnership with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, WHO and UNICEF is, therefore, set to launch the vaccine, followed by a roll-out in some selected 16 states namely; Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Enugu, FCT, Jigawa, Kano, Kebbi, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ogun, Osun and Taraba.
