The next phase of the successful and award-winning program, according to Public Health medical director Dr. Richard Brostrom, is the inclusion of girls from grades seven to nine.
This year’s immunization campaign will be launched on Nov. 12 for the first HPV doses, at all high schools, public and private.
Last year, 76 percent of the targeted older high school population completed the three doses of HPV immunization, although 92 percent of them were given the first one.
“So we’re going out again to protect as many (girls) as we can from cervical cancer in the future,” Brostrom said.
He said the success of last year’s campaign was remarkable.
The next phase this year will help ensure the elimination of cervical cancer in the CNMI, he added,
According to Public Health’s recently published report, a woman in the islands is diagnosed with cervical cancer every seven weeks.
The first phase of the cervical cancer prevention program, the immunization drive, was implemented with the help of Stellar Marianas, the Public School System and private schools.
On Saipan, 1,173 high school girls were vaccinated — 75 percent of girls in public high schools and 82 percent in private schools.
Ninety-one high school girls, or 84 percent, on Rota and 110, or 72 percent, on Tinian were also vaccinated.
This year’s HPV shot will complete the vaccine of those who were not able to get all the three vaccines last year.
