With the plethora of vaccinations available today, the saying “prevention is better than cure” is something that rings true.
Many may hesitate to get a jab given how expensive they can be.
But the government wants to change that — by first offering free cervical cancer vaccinations for secondary school girls.
The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is highly effective in preventing cervical cancer.
Secondary school girls will receive the vaccinations progressively over the course of their time in school.
The doses will be administered in the following order:
All female students will undergo the procedure on school compounds.
The government started this initiative because of the recent rise in cervical cancer cases in Singpore.
According to the Ministry of Health (MOH), cervical cancer is the “tenth most common cancer and the eighth most common cause of deaths among Singaporean women.”
1,000 people tested positive for cervical cancer between 2011 and 2015.
MOH and Singapore Cancer Society (SCS) have been working closely to raise awareness about cervical cancer and the availability of vaccinations.
In Oct 2018, they launched a three-year plan to tackle cervical cancer which included measures such as improving outreach and education.
Generally, the cost of HPV vaccination ranges from around $300 to $700 and varies according to age group. Up to $400 can be claimed from Medisave for the HPV vaccines.
HPV vaccines are available at polyclinics, public hospitals, general practitioner, private hospitals and gynecology clinics. Here are some places where you can get your vaccinations:
A life filled with regret is going to be far more painful than the vaccine jab.
With the rising cases of cervical cancer amongst Singaporean women, it is all the more important for us to take preventive measures early and immediately.
We can all do our part to raise awareness for cervical cancer as it doesn’t only affect the person but also their families and society as a whole.
Featured image from freepik.com.
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