TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taipei City Department of Health announced on Monday (Dec. 11) that Taipei's male junior high school students will receive the 9-valent Human Papillomavirus (9vHPV) vaccine for free starting in September 2024.
The initiative aims to enhance herd immunity and reduce HPV infections and related cancers among both male and female students. With a 91% vaccination rate among junior high school girls in 2021, Health Commissioner Chen Yen-yuan has extended the program to boys.
Consent from students and parents is required, along with a health assessment by a physician. According to reports, 93 schools will provide on-campus vaccination sites. Apart from schools, 115 contracted medical institutions in Taipei City will provide vaccinations for students unable to receive them at school, ensuring accessibility.
Lin Hsueh-lan, head of the Health Promotion Division, highlighted the vaccine's effectiveness in preventing infections and reducing cancer risks.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the HPV vaccine for 90% of girls under 15, with boys as a secondary priority group. The Health Promotion Administration has covered the vaccine cost for female junior high students since 2018, setting the stage for this effort to protect boys against HPV.
