China to Expand HPV Vaccination Access Through National Program

China is preparing to introduce human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination services for eligible females and integrate the vaccine into its national immunization program this year, according to an announcement from the National Health Commission (NHC). The country's Vaccine Management Law mandates a national immunization program that provides residents with specific vaccines at no cost.

In recent years, an increasing number of local governments have begun offering free domestic HPV vaccinations to girls, primarily those aged between 9 and 14. This trend has fueled calls to include HPV vaccines in the national immunization program, driven by the increased availability of affordable domestic vaccines and the growing impact of cervical cancer.

China currently has both domestically produced and imported HPV vaccines available. The country's first homegrown nine-valent HPV vaccine was introduced in June and administered for the first time this past Tuesday.

HPV is the primary cause of cervical cancer, posing a significant threat to women's health. Globally, approximately 700,000 cancer cases annually are linked to HPV, including an estimated 530,000 cases of cervical cancer.

Health experts consider vaccination the most effective and affordable method to prevent infection and reduce the risk of cervical cancer and related illnesses. Data indicates that vaccination can be up to 94 percent effective in preventing HPV infection.

In 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) initiated a global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer, aiming for 90 percent of girls to be fully vaccinated against HPV by age 15 by 2030. In line with this WHO strategy, China's NHC launched a cervical cancer elimination action plan for the period of 2022-2030, advocating for the expansion of HPV vaccination coverage nationwide.