Jamaicans should stop “playing around” with vaccination, St Mary Medical Officer of Health Dr Tamara Henry-Gilpin has warned, amid persistent hesitancy and low uptake of key vaccines.

Her warning comes amid efforts to boost HPV vaccination in communities where misinformation continues to shape decisions.

At a recent community health fair at the Giant Family Mart car park in Port Maria, to mark Vaccination Week in the Americas, residents voiced concerns reflecting a wider challenge: misinformation continues to fuel hesitancy around the HPV vaccine. Some, however, said they overcame their fears after receiving credible medical advice.