Starting from November 10, China will officially include the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine in the national immunization program. Girls born after November 10, 2011, who are at least 13 years old, can receive the bivalent HPV vaccine free of charge.
Effective from the 10th of Next Month
According to a joint notice issued by seven departments including the National Disease Control Bureau, the National Health Commission, and the Ministry of Education, and approved by the State Council, the HPV vaccine will be included in the national immunization program. From November 10, 2025, local governments will organize free bivalent HPV vaccination for girls born after November 10, 2011, who have reached the age of 13. The vaccination consists of two doses, administered six months apart.
The National Disease Control Bureau pointed out that in recent years, the incidence and mortality rates of cervical cancer have been on the rise, with the age of onset trending younger. Receiving the HPV vaccine can effectively prevent high-risk HPV infections and reduce the occurrence of cervical cancer and related diseases.
According to Xinhua News Agency, designating 13-year-old girls as the target group for free HPV vaccination is regarded as the optimal choice based on comprehensive considerations of protective effectiveness, cost-benefit, and feasibility. An Zhijie, Deputy Director of the Immunization Center at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, noted that vaccination at age 13 can achieve higher antibody levels and longer-lasting protective effects.
Data shows that in 2022, there were approximately 151,000 new cases of cervical cancer and about 56,000 deaths from the disease in China.
It is understood that HPV vaccines are categorized by the number of virus types they prevent: bivalent, quadrivalent, and nine-valent. The first domestically produced nine-valent HPV vaccine, "Xinkening R9," was administered for the first time in Haicang, Xiamen, on September 9. The nine-valent vaccine covers nine types of HPV infection and provides broader protection compared to the bivalent vaccine.