THE United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reaffirmed the safety and effectiveness of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for prevention of cervical cancer among girl-child of ages nine to 14 in Nigeria.
The UNICEF Social and Behaviour Change Specialist, Aderonke Akinola- Akinwole, stated this during a two-day media dialogue on “Combating the most Preventable form of Deadly Cancer Affecting Women and Girls (HPV) through Vaccination” on Wednesday in Lagos.
Akinola-Akinwole noted that rumours and misconceptions about severe side effects of vaccine resulting in chronic terminal diseases and infertility and ineffectiveness of the vaccines were false.
According to her, vaccines are introduced after several quality assurance from local agencies in charge of food and drugs in Nigeria.
“It is normal that the body may react upon the receipt of vaccines and sometimes may not, but the reaction will wane within 48 hours,”she said.
Akinola-Akinwole charged journalists to, as the life wire of information dissemination, to provide correct, consistent, and continuous information on the scourge of cervical cancers and the effectiveness of HPV vaccines.
She said that journalists, as influence policy makers, have capabilities to improve demand for HPV vaccines through advocacy reporting and human centered storytelling.
She urged journalists to provide platforms for technical experts to contribute to conversations around effectiveness of HPV vaccines for girls in Nigeria. (NAN)
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