From July 1, 2026, HPV vaccine will be officially included in the National Expanded Program on Immunization. It is expected that the group prioritized for free vaccination is girls aged 9 to under 15 years old, depending on the implementation plan in each locality.
This is considered an important change in the strategy of preventing diseases related to HPV, especially cervical cancer and some other dangerous diseases.
Dr. Vo Minh Nhut - Deputy Head of Vaccine Professional Department, Long Chau Pharmaceutical and Vaccination System, said that the age group from 9-14 is considered the "golden time" for HPV vaccination. Most children in this age group have never been exposed to the HPV virus. Early vaccination helps the body form protective immunity before the risk of exposure to the virus in the future. In addition, the immune system in school age also responds very well to vaccines, thereby creating optimal protection effectiveness.
Many studies also show that children vaccinated against HPV in the age group of 9-14 have stronger immune responses than when vaccinated at a larger age. This is also the reason why the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States (CDC) and many countries choose school age groups to implement HPV vaccination programs.
According to Dr. Vo Minh Nhut, HPV vaccine is one of the few vaccines currently capable of preventing some cancers caused by viruses, by preventing high-risk HPV infections before the virus causes cell damage. This is considered a proactive, safe and effective preventive measure to reduce the risk of HPV-related diseases in both women and men.
Early vaccination helps the body create protective immunity before it is likely to be exposed to the virus in the future, thereby reducing the risk of developing cancer and HPV-related diseases later," Dr. Vo Minh Nhut emphasized.
Faced with the increasing demand for HPV vaccine research and vaccination, experts recommend that people should proactively access information from official sources and consult medical staff for advice on vaccines as well as vaccination schedules suitable for age, gender and health status.
Currently, HPV vaccines licensed by the Ministry of Health are circulating in Vietnam and all have high protection effectiveness for common high-risk HPV types. The selection of vaccines needs to be based on indications, licensed age and accessibility of each person. It is important not to postpone vaccination just to wait for a specific vaccine, because the highest protection effectiveness is achieved when vaccinated at the recommended time.
In addition, people need to fully follow the vaccination schedule according to the instructions of the manufacturer and vaccination facility. Getting enough doses as recommended is an important factor to achieve optimal protection and maintain long-term immunity," Dr. Vo Minh Nhut informed.
HPV (Human Papillomavirus) is a common virus, mainly transmitted through sexual contact, with more than 100 different types. According to WHO, HPV is the cause of almost all cases of cervical cancer.
In addition to cervical cancer, this virus is also related to many other dangerous diseases such as vulvar cancer, vaginal cancer, anal cancer, penile cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, pharyngeal cancer and genital warts. WHO and many international health organizations have assessed HPV vaccine as safe and effective when used as directed.
