The government, through the Ministry of Health, is now at loggerheads with members of the Catholic Church following the plan to forcefully vaccinate 10-year-olds against Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD).
According to a report by Business Daily, the Ministry, which is headed by Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki, intends to administer the drugs on all school girls in an attempt to control cervical cancer which is caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
Through a letter signed by Health Principal Secretary Susan Mochache and addressed to her State Department of Early Learning and Basic Education counterpart, the ministry intends to start the rollout in July.
The ministry argued that the HPV virus was responsible for up to 99 per cent of cervical cancer and that the vaccination would significantly reduce its prevalence.
“At least two-thirds of cervical cancer cases could be averted if 90 per cent coverage is reached with HPV vaccines hence Kenya plans to introduce the vaccine into routine immunisation.
“To reduce the burden due to cervical cancer in the country, the Ministry of Health plans to introduce the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine into routine immunisation schedule 2019 targeting girls aged 10 years of age,” read the letter in part.
Unimpressed by the move, members of the Catholic Church opposed it arguing that 10-year-olds were too young to start receiving vaccinations against STDs.
Doctors from faith-based organisations explained that the best way to prevent cervical cancer was by abstinence.
The cost of the vaccination is estimated to be Ksh475 million and the students will receive two doses on the upper arm.
Cervical cancer is the second most common after breast cancer in Kenya.
