Health Minister, Alausa Reaffirms Safety of HPV Vaccine for Cervical Cancer Prevention

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has provided assurance to Nigerians regarding the safety of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.

Alausa gave the assurance while speaking to newsmen following his visit to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the Lagos House, Marina, on Wednesday.

“HPV vaccine is 100 percent safe,” the minister said, adding, “This is a vaccine that has been in existence for about 18 years now, and Nigeria is late to adopt this vaccine.”

He noted that Nigeria has about 8,000 women “dying from cervical cancer today”, stressing that “this vaccine will prevent cervical cancer by 95 percent.”

The minister encouraged the administration of the vaccine to girls aged nine to 15, adding that some countries are already administering it to women up to 45 years old.

“It is a safe vaccine. We should encourage all our young girls between the ages of nine and 15 years to get this vaccine.

“In fact, in other parts of the world, the HPV vaccine has been expanded to (be administered to women) as old as 45 years.

“It saves lives, it prevents cancer. This is one of the preventive things we could do to help our healthcare system,” he said.

Alausa added, “So, let me emphatically say it again: HPV vaccine, the human papillomavirus vaccine is 100 percent safe. I’m a physician. I’m a father. I have a daughter and she got the vaccine when she was 13 years old and that was about 13 years ago.

“So, I’m putting my mouth where my money is; HPV vaccine is safe. Please, discount any ignorant, uneducated social media information you get. HPV vaccine is safe.”

Kanyi Daily recalls that unprotected sexual intercourse with uncircumcised men increases women’s risk of contracting the human papillomavirus (HPV), a consultant gynecologist, Dr. Stanley Egbogu had warned.