TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Minister of Health and Welfare Chiu Tai-yuan (邱泰源) announced on Tuesday (June 18) that funds for nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations for junior high school boys could be available as early as 2025.
The World Health Organization (WHO) advocates for 90% of girls to receive the HPV vaccine before the age of 15, with a recommendation to include adolescent boys if feasible.
During a Legislative Yuan session, Kuomintang Legislator Lee Yen-hsiu (李彥秀) pointed out that 58 countries worldwide already provide publicly funded HPV vaccines for junior high boys.
Lee noted that in Taiwan, Yunlin, Penghu, and Chiayi already offer publicly funded HPV vaccinations for junior high boys, with Taipei set to follow suit in September. Lee argued for nationwide consistency to avoid city disparities.
Chiu responded that junior high boys have already been included in the public subsidy for HPV vaccinations, and the budget has been allocated accordingly.
Lee further questioned whether the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) could consider providing publicly funded 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccines (PPV23) for all individuals over 50.
She also asked if high-risk individuals could be provided with publicly funded 13-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV13) and PPV23.
Chiu replied that these suggestions were excellent and could impact the nation's health positively. He assured that the Ministry of Health and Welfare would carefully consider them.
Lee also mentioned the high cost of the shingles vaccine, with one dose costing NT$6,000 and the second NT$8,000. She asked if the ministry could consider providing publicly funded vaccinations for low-income and high-risk groups. Chiu said he would consult experts in the future.
