Eligible male students can now receive a complimentary HPV vaccination

Eligible male students can now receive a complimentary HPV vaccination

Taiwan Leads East Asia in Offering Free HPV Vaccinations to Boys

Starting next month, Taiwan will become the first country in East Asia to offer free HPV vaccinations to male junior-high school students. This proactive step extends the existing cervical cancer prevention program and aims to increase protection against HPV-related diseases among boys.

The Health Promotion Administration (HPA) has been offering free HPV vaccinations to all female junior-high students since 2018. From September 2022, the program will expand to include boys, providing them the full two-dose series free of charge. This move positions Taiwan ahead of other East Asian countries like South Korea and Japan, which have not yet provided free HPV vaccinations for boys.

The rationale behind this policy is to broaden HPV vaccination coverage, reducing the transmission of the virus and the incidence of HPV-related cancers. By vaccinating boys at a young age (typically 9–14 years) before potential exposure, Taiwan aims to improve public health outcomes and further efforts toward cancer prevention.

HPV is a DNA virus with more than 200 types, and persistent infection with high-risk types can lead to various cancers, including cervical, anal, head, neck, and genital cancers, as well as genital warts. Vaccination can prevent at least 70 percent of HPV infections, and full vaccination provides protection for at least 10 years.

The HPA has achieved a high coverage rate by administering publicly funded HPV vaccinations directly in schools. As a result, vaccination rates among female students entering junior-high school have been increasing since the program's launch in 2018, reaching over 90 percent from 2022 onward.

This public program also reduces economic barriers for families, as each dose costs about NT$6,000 if paid out of pocket. The extension of the program is expected to benefit more than 200,000 students this year, with nearly 110,000 male students benefiting by the end of this year.

Cancer Prevention and Control Division Director Lin Li-ju stated that Taiwan is the first country in East Asia to offer the full two-dose HPV vaccination series for boys free of charge. HPA Director-General Shen Ching-fen announced the extension of the program at a news conference in Taipei.

The HPV vaccination program in Taiwan has been successful in increasing vaccination rates among female students. This move aligns with global public health trends aiming to eradicate HPV-related cancers through early vaccination at the population level.

[1] Chiu, C. (2022). Taiwan to offer free HPV vaccinations to male junior-high school students. Taipei Times. [2] Staff writer. (2022). Taiwan to offer free HPV vaccinations to male junior-high school students. CNA.

1. The expansion of Taiwan's HPV vaccination program to include boys signifies a broader approach in addressing health-and-wellness matters, such as fighting cancer and other HPV-related diseases like genital warts.
2. As mental-health is closely linked to overall health, this proactive step by Taiwan can indirectly contribute to the well-being of boys by reducing the potential health issues associated with HPV.
3. Recognizing the significance of fitness-and-exercise and sexual-health in maintaining a holistic approach to wellness, Taiwan's free HPV vaccination program for boys could pave the way for similar efforts in addressing these crucial areas for health promotion.

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