The Kumasi Metropolitan Health Directorate has targeted 30,979 girls aged nine to 14 years to be vaccinated against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV).

Dr Akosua Gyimah Omari-Sasu, the Metro Health Director, told the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi that the exercise, which started in the metropolis on Tuesday, October 07, 2025, has, as of Friday, October 09, 2025, covered 12,641 girls within the target ages.

She said the ongoing vaccination exercise was expected to end either on Sunday or Monday, October 13, 2025.

Dr Omari-Sasu pointed out that the vaccine, which had been approved by the WHO, was safe and had no adverse side effects.

She, however, said some people may experience a slight headache, fever or pain at the side of the injection, after the vaccination, and urged those who might experience such effects to report to the nearest health centre for treatment.

Dr Omari-Sasu explained that the vaccination targeted girls from the ages of nine to 14 years because it was effective when administered to girls who were not yet sexually active.

“For adults to take the vaccine, you have to undergo cervical cancer screening to ensure that you do not have the condition before you are given the vaccine,” she stated.

She entreated parents to consent to the administration of the vaccine, which was free of charge, to prevent their wards from the risk of contracting the HPV, cervical cancer in future.

Some of the girls who took the vaccine told the Ghana News Agency that they did not experience any side effects and were fine and happy that they took the vaccine.

The Human Papillomavirus is a common sexually transmitted infection which almost all sexually active people risk being infected at some point in their lives.

According to the World Health Organisation, being vaccinated is the best way to prevent the HPV infection, cervical cancer and other HPV-related cancers.