'Jamaica's cervical cancer cases high yet locals shun HPV vaccine'

Chairman of the Southern Regional Health Authority (SRHA) Wayne Chen says he's disappointed by the low interest being shown by residents within the region to the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Chen said the trend was particularly worrying since Jamaica has one of the highest incidents of cervical cancer.

He noted that the vaccine is free and said the mindset of people need to change.

The SRHA chairman says the window to get the vaccine is closing fast and citizens should not allow ignorance to prevent girls from living a healthy life.

The Ministry of Health has said that it is targeting more than 20,000 grade-seven girls islandwide for the vaccine.