This archive report was first published on 19 September 2019.
The Kenyan government has announced plans to launch a nationwide campaign to vaccinate young girls aged 10 against cervical cancer, with the vaccine to be administered free of charge at over 9,000 public, private, and faith-based health facilities across the country.
The campaign, which is set to begin before the end of September, aims to protect girls from the risk of contracting cervical cancer, which is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).
According to the World Health Organisation, virtually all cervical cancer cases (99 per cent) are linked to genital infection with HPV, making it the most common viral infection of the reproductive tract.
HPV is a highly contagious virus that can be spread through skin-to-skin contact, including vaginal, anal, and oral sex. It is estimated that over 100 varieties of HPV exist, with more than 40 of them being passed through sexual contact and affecting the genitals, mouth, or throat.
The vaccine, Gardasil, is a quadrivalent vaccine that protects against six types of HPV, including types 6, 11, 16, and 18, which are responsible for most cases of genital warts and cervical cancer.
The vaccine will be administered in two doses, six months apart, and is available in private health facilities at a cost of between Sh3,000 and Sh5,000 for those older than 10 years.
Published on September 19, 2019
