Village helps blaze trail with vaccinations

'A good thing'

Wang Er'rui, 39, who also lives in Juungar Banner, said she used to know little about cervical cancer and was unaware there was a vaccine for it. She had a physical examination for the disease in 2018, and her 15-year-old daughter has been vaccinated along with other female students at her school.

"She doesn't know what it means, but I believe it's a good thing," Wang said. "We parents have discussed the vaccinations, and some are concerned about possible side effects. But at the end of the day, it's good to know that the government cares about us. If it hadn't introduced the free vaccinations, I would never have paid for them, as they're too expensive."

Lyu Ping, director of the Juungar Banner Maternity and Childcare Hospital, said three injections are needed against two types of HPV, costing a total of 1,770 yuan. There is a service fee of 20 yuan for each inoculation. "This is no small amount for the residents," Lyu added.

The hospital is among those designated to conduct the free vaccinations program in Juungar Banner, along with health centers in towns and communities. From Aug 3 to Aug 9, 749 girls were inoculated at Lyu's hospital.

He said a survey conducted at schools found that more than 10,000 girls qualify for the vaccinations, and some 80 percent of them said they were willing to take part in the program. The hospital plans to complete the first round of injections before the end of October.

"The program is in such demand that people often have to wait in line," Lyu said, adding that each vaccine is given a specific code to provide a record of the company producing it and the person it is administered to.

From 2011 to last year, the hospital gave free breast and cervical cancer examinations to more than 80,000 women, of whom 55 were confirmed to have cervical cancer.

"We carried out a huge number of preliminary examinations during this time and enhanced awareness of the disease and prevention measures among the public. I think most women already had some knowledge of it," Lyu said.

Zhang Zhanjie, director of Longkou Town Health Center in Juungar Banner, said the facility will administer free HPV vaccinations to about 600 primary and middle school students. The first batch of 200 vaccines was used within four days from Aug 1, and the center is waiting for a second batch of 400. All the vaccines are imported.

Some local students studying elsewhere are returning home to be vaccinated, and the total number of those receiving the shots may reach 800, Zhang said.

The service is available seven days a week and is conducted by four medical staff members. Parents must register, sign a consent form and learn about possible side effects. "Just one student felt slightly dizzy, the temperature of another rose to 37.5 C, but all the others were fine," Zhang said.

"Parents are rushing to get their children vaccinated in case supplies run out. Every year, women are confirmed to have contracted cervical cancer in the town. Awareness of the disease is improving, although many patients still only see a doctor when their condition deteriorates and they are already in the terminal stage, which also places a considerable financial burden on a family."

Zhang said the local government attaches great importance to issues related to people's livelihoods, such as culture, education and health. For example, the center, which covers 4,000 square meters and boasts advanced medical equipment, recently recruited more doctors.

Liu Zheng, deputy director of the Ordos Health Commission, said that following the vaccination trial in Juungar Banner, free HPV shots will be offered to females ages 13 to 18 throughout the city.

"The program aims to promote women's health, improve people's quality of life, sense of happiness, and contribute to the strategy of 'Healthy Ordos, Healthy China'," Liu said, adding that there is a high incidence of cervical cancer in the city.