Thousands of Grade 5 girls across the Western Cape will have another opportunity to receive free protection against cervical cancer when the province’s next round of school-based HPV vaccinations gets under way next month.
The vaccination campaign follows the successful immunisation of 36 841 Grade 5 girls in public and special schools during the first six months of 2026. The Western Cape Government is now encouraging the parents and caregivers of more than 14 000 eligible learners who have not yet received the vaccine to sign the required consent forms.
The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has been proven worldwide to significantly reduce the risk of women developing cervical cancer later in life.
HPV vaccinations are free
Western Cape Minister of Health and Wellness Mireille Wenger urged parents and caregivers to take advantage of the free vaccination programme.
“Parents and caregivers do so much every day to protect their children, and this is one more powerful way to protect your daughter’s future. With one signed consent form, you can give her access to a free vaccine that can help prevent a cancer that could threaten her life many years from now. Nearly 37 000 families have already said yes to that protection, and I encourage every eligible parent and caregiver to do the same.”
Between 3 August and 23 September 2026, nurses from the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness will visit private, public and special schools to administer free single-dose and catch-up HPV vaccines to eligible Grade 5 girls aged nine years and older.
The department said cervical cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed among South African women and is often caused by HPV. The vaccine is administered during early adolescence, when children have a strong immune response, making it highly effective at preventing HPV infections before they can cause harm.
“Parents and caregivers do so much every day to protect their children, and this is one more powerful way to protect your daughter’s future. With one signed consent form, you can give her access to a free vaccine that can help prevent a cancer that could threaten her life many years from now,” explains Wenger.
Vaccination for boys as well
The upcoming school vaccination programme will also include Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (TDaP) booster shots for all Grade 5 boys and girls attending public and private schools. The booster is intended to help prevent pockets of diphtheria outbreaks, strengthen school-based vaccination programmes and renew protection against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough as immunity from early childhood vaccinations begins to fade.
The department emphasised that vaccines will only be administered to learners whose parents or caregivers have signed and returned the consent forms.
Wenger acknowledged that parents and caregivers may have questions about vaccinations and encouraged them to seek reliable information.
“We know that parents and caregivers may have questions about vaccines, and we want you to ask them. Speak to our school health teams or visit your local clinic. We want you to feel confident about the decision you are making for your child. Ask your child if they have received their consent form and please sign and return it.”
For more information on child health and immunisation, visit: https://www.westerncape.gov.za/health-wellness/article/child-health-and-immunisation.
