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Podcast: First Take SA
Episode: Health Department launches the 2026 HPV vaccination drive
Description: The Department of Health will launch the 2026 Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination drive today, targeting girls aged 9 and older, mainly in Grade 5, to protect them from cervical cancer. Over 5,700 cases of cervical cancer are reported annually in South Africa, with more than 3,000 deaths. Unvaccinated girls and women with HIV face higher risks. For more on the vaccination roll out, Elvis Presslin spoke to Dr. Fikile Ndlovu, Deputy Director General for HIV, TB, Maternal and Child Health at the Department of Health