MOH To Vaccinate 5K Girls

Authorities at the Ministry of Health (MoH), with support from its partners, has planned to launch a nationwide HPV Vaccination campaign, mainly targeting about five thousand girls.

The initiative aims to prevent Cervical Cancer in women by vaccinating girls between the ages of 9-18 years.

The vaccine exercise will run from November 17-21, 2025 across the country.

Human papillomavirus (HPV), is a very common group of viruses that are spread through skin-to-skin contact, and it is very common among Liberian women.

HPV can cause six types of cancer that include anal, cervical, oropharyngeal, penile, vaginal and vulvar cancers.

HPV vaccines can prevent cancer, infection with disease-causing HPV types as well as many HPV-related cancers and cases of genital warts.

MoH Director for Expended Program on Immunization (EPI), Dr. Yuah Nemah, made the disclosure on Monday, November 3, 2025, in Monrovia.

Dr. Nemah said the HPV vaccine offers a chance of protection, and prevents young girls from developing cervical or womb cancer later in the future.

He added: “Just by taking one injection dose of the vaccine, the girl child has a chance to protect herself against the virus. So, the old adage that says, prevention is better than cure resonates with us now. If we encounter the girl very early, cervical cancer can be prevented. This is why we are beginning the exercise with girls aged 9-18 years.”

Dr. Nemah then assured the public that the vaccine is safe and free from causing any harm, as the user(s) need one dose of the medication.

“It has less-side-effect, and a little fever after it is administered. Do not take any medication afterward,” Nemah assured.

“Join us for the 2025 catch-up campaign from November 17-21, 2025. The vaccination teams will be visiting schools, health facilities, and other community sites across the country to reach as many girls as possible.”

Clinton Health Access Initiative Official, Lila Kerr, said the campaign, is expected to reach every communities in all 93 health districts in the country.

She said the launching ceremony for the HPV vaccination will take place simultaneously across the country, and that include remote areas, to ensure that no girl is left out of the process.

Kerr described the effort as a “catch-up” campaign for girls, who missed the previous doses, as nearly 2,000 vaccination teams are expected to be deployed nationwide to administer the medication.