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DHAKA, Oct 30, 2024 (BSS) – Director General of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Professor Dr Md Abu Jafor today said human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has no linkage with the sickness of a few students and urged people not to spread rumors about it.

The director general made the call at a press conference on HPV vaccination campaign at DGHS Mohakhali office, as various rumors have been spread in the society centering the reported sickness of some students from panic during the vaccination in Bhola.
 
The government recently launched cervical cancer prevention programme across the country except Dhaka division.
 
Professor Abu Jafor said that HPV vaccination has no relation with infertility and also there is no negative correlation between religious practices and vaccination activities.

“We have to come forward consciously from our respective positions against such rumors and propaganda,” he added.

About the sickness of students, the director general said two female students suddenly fell ill after taking the vaccine during the vaccination programme at a center on Tuesday, and after seeing them few more students also fell ill. They were admitted to the Upazila Health Complex and currently, all of them have recovered and left the hospital with clearance, he added.

It is mentionable that five female students, who were admitted to the hospital, didn’t take any vaccination

Initially the disease was thought to be mass psychogenic illness, said the director general, adding, a committee has already been formed to investigate this incident.

The HPV vaccine used in this vaccination programme in Bangladesh is produced in Belgium. This vaccine is used in 140 countries around the world, including 14 Muslim countries (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Malaysia, Morocco, Kuwait, and Maldives etc).

Abu Jafor said that EPI has set the target of giving HPV vaccine to 62 lakh 12 thousand 559 people in seven divisions. Among them, there is a target of giving 58 lakh 62 thousand 918 students at school level. So far, 34 lakh 46 thousand 618 students have registered, while 18 lakh 17 thousand 326 female students received it.

He said more than 18 lakh people have been vaccinated, among them, 271 people have witnessed some common reactions, which is 0.14 percent points and absolutely negligible in case of vaccination. If 4 to 5 percent are affected, it is considered a direct side effect, he added.

Health ministry’s joint secretary Dr Md Shibbir Ahmed Osmani, additional director general of DGHS Dr Md Rizwanur Rahman, director of DGHS Dr. ABM Abu Hanif, among others, were present at the press conference.