Panaji: The directorate of education (DoE) has requested heads of all schools to cooperate and support the roll-out of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination to protect girls against cervical cancer.DoE has issued a circular to the heads of schools stating that girls between the ages of 14 and 15 years and 3 months will be vaccinated.The DoE has requested them to support the director of health services in rolling out the HPV vaccination campaign and inform parents so that eligible girls get vaccinated.Director of education Shailesh Zingde stated in the circular that the vaccination will be available at govt health facilities, such as Ayushman Arogya Mandir, primary health centres, community health centres, sub-district/district hospitals and govt medical college and hospitals. The vaccine will be available from Monday to Saturday from 9am to 1pm for three months to ensure that as many eligible girls are vaccinated. Thereafter, the vaccine will be available at the same health facility on routine immunisation days.“The HPV vaccination is voluntary; however, consent from the parent/guardian is mandatory before vaccination of girls,” the circular has stated. The DoE said that cervical cancer is a significant public health concern in India and globally, and it is the only cancer which can be prevented by a vaccine.
