Pretoria – The Department of Health is embarking on a vaccination drive to protect girls aged nine years and older from developing cervical cancer later in life.
Announcing the move, the department said from tomorrow, Monday, 2 February, it will kick off the 2026 Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination drive.
South Africa continues to record a high number of cases of cervical cancer and related deaths annually, despite the availability of a lifesaving vaccine at public health facilities and the private health sector.
The department revealed that more than 5 700 cases of cervical cancer are reported each year in the country, while more than 3 000 women die from cervical cancer-related complications.
“This means, unvaccinated girls and women living with HIV are at a higher risk of serious health complications if they develop cervical cancer later in life, compared to the general population,” explained the department in a statement made available to The Bulrushes on Sunday, 1 February 2026.
“The introduction of the Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Programme in 2014 has benefitted more than 3,6 million girls, mostly in public schools, with over 7,2 million doses administered.”
The department said the programme has now been expanded to reach all girls in both public and private schools, including special independent schools, to ensure no one is left behind.
“This annual campaign will target mostly girls in Grade 5 aged nine years and older to protect them from cervical cancer, which remains the second most common cancer among women in South Africa, after breast cancer,” the department said.
“The success of the campaign to protect girls from this preventable, yet deadly disease hinges on stronger collaboration among all stakeholders, particularly parents and caregivers, who are required to complete the vaccination consent forms issued by schools to eligible girl learners.”
The department appealed to parents, caregivers, and legal guardians to prioritise the health and future of their children by signing the consent forms issued by the schools to enable them receive this life-saving and free vaccination.
“Trained teams of healthcare workers, including nurses, will be visiting schools across to carry out the HPV vaccination campaign as part of the Integrated School Health Programme,” the department stated.
