Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Introduction in South Africa: Implementation Lessons From an Evaluation of the National School-Based Vaccination Campaign.

Background: In April 2014, a national school-based human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program was rolled out in South Africa, targeting Grade 4 girls aged ≥9 years. A bivalent HPV vaccine with a 2-dose (6 months apart) schedule was used. At the request of the National Department of Health (NDoH), we conducted an external assessment of the first-dose phase of the vaccination program to evaluate program coverage and vaccine safety and identify factors that influenced implementation.

The Expanded Programme on Immunisation in South Africa: A story yet to be told.

During the past two decades, immunisation has saved millions of lives and prevented countless illnesses and disabilities in South Africa(SA). However, vaccine-preventable diseases are still a threat. A vaccine-preventable disease that might lead to a 1- or 2-week illness in anadult, could prove deadly for infants, children or elderly people.