The new human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine Gardisal was launched on September 1 in a programme aiming to halve the rate of cervical cancer deaths in New Zealand each year, but publicity for the vaccination programme has inadvertently been smothered.
Aoraki PHO GP representative Jennifer McGechie said there was a ‘‘problem'' with publicity for the new vaccine, which is costing the government $177 million over five years. She said because the vaccine was launched in a general election year there were high-level fears that if the government was seen to be trumpeting the programme it could contravene the new election law.
The Electoral Finance Act was passed last year, amid controversy, to strictly regulate political campaigning.
Fears the vaccine money could be construed as election spending was affecting the publicity campaign, she said.
‘‘It's been difficult due to the Electoral Finance [Act]'', she said.
There would likely be more publicity after the election when the provisions of the Act no longer counted, she said.
The low-key nature of last week's launch meant some girls might miss out on the vaccine, although she was confident everyone would be vaccinated when publicity was ramped up next year.
The provisions of the Electoral Finance Act have applied since January 1 this year, as this is a general election year.
Ministry of Health spokesman Antony Byers said the ministry had sought advice on the issue from the State Services Commission, which was advising interested parties about the new law.
He said doubts over the law meant the full publicity campaign would not begin in earnest until next year, to escape any legal ramifications.
In a subsequent written statement released to The Courier, Ministry of Health deputy director of public health Fran McGrath said the vaccine programme had started without needing to be changed after the legal advice was sought.
Electoral Commission spokesman Peter Northcote said there was a ‘‘degree of misunderstanding'' about the new electioneering law. It should not interfere with normal government business and public policy, he said.
One provision in the Act causing some confusion was the new prohibition on government agency chief executives being used for electioneering, Mr Northcote said.
Mr Northcote believed this could cause confusion about the appropriate way to promote legitimate government programmes if those charged with delivering programmes did not understand the Electoral Finance Act.
The HPV vaccine will be given first to 16 and 17-yearolds and next year to girls 12 and older.
Eventually, once the ‘‘catchup'' period is finished, girls will receive the vaccine aged 12.
Dr McGechie stressed the vaccine was voluntary and people had the right to refuse it. However, it had the potential to drastically cut the numbers affected by cervical cancer.
The vaccine did not prevent the need for regular Pap smears.
The vaccine gives protection against the human papillomavirus, which is linked to the development of cancer of the cervix. Sixty women die each year in New Zealand as a result of cervical cancer.
The vaccine programme's stated aim is to halve the rate to 30 per year.
The vaccine would be administered in three shots over six months. It is available free from GPs and sexual health clinics. GPs will be sending reminder letters to girls born in 1990 and 1991.
Story By EILEEN GOODWIN
