Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, 5 March:- HPV vaccination has started in various government health institutions of the district to prevent cancer of the mouth of the uterus (cervical cancer). Giving this information, Civil Surgeon Dr Sangeeta Jain and District Immunization Officer Dr Girish Dogra said that this vaccine is being given to girls aged 14 to 15 years, meaning those who have crossed their 14th birthday but have not yet reached their 15th birthday. It is worth mentioning that recently the Government of India and the Punjab Government started this vaccine campaign.
This vaccine is available at a high cost in private hospitals, while it will be provided completely free in government hospitals. The HPV campaign will continue for 90 days and the beneficiary must carry her Aadhaar card while coming for vaccination.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide, while in India it is the second most common cancer among women. This serious cancer, found in the lower part of the uterus in women, is mainly caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). It was also clarified that vaccination done at the right time proves to be effective in preventing this disease.
The Civil Surgeon appealed to parents to get their daughters vaccinated against HPV to protect them from this life threatening disease.