Ministry of Health Expands Age Eligibility for HPV Vaccination

Published: 09:54 - 23/05/2024 Author: Nguyễn Văn Thành 09:54 23/05/2024 Views: 1

🤖 AI Translation Notice: This article was automatically translated by AI from the official Vietnamese publication of the School of Preventive Medicine and Public Health (HMU). For official legal/administrative reference, please consult the original Vietnamese version →.

On 9 May 2024, the Ministry of Health officially approved the expansion of the age range for the 9-valent HPV vaccine to include both males and females up to 45 years of age in Vietnam.

Accordingly, instead of the previous age limit of 9–26 years, the Ministry of Health now permits individuals aged 27 to 45 to receive the HPV vaccine.

A representative from the Drug Administration of Vietnam, Ministry of Health, stated that the expansion of the vaccination indication was reviewed and evaluated by the Advisory Council for the Issuance of Marketing Authorization for Drugs and Medicinal Ingredients.

Specifically, the Council concluded that for individuals aged 9–45, the vaccine helps prevent cancers at the following sites: cervix, vulva, vagina, anus, as well as precancerous lesions, dysplasia, and genital warts. For males, the vaccine also helps prevent external genital lesions.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted virus. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), most sexually active individuals will contract this virus at some point in their lives, often without symptoms.

It is estimated that HPV caused approximately 620,000 cancer cases in women and 70,000 cases in men in 2019. The WHO recommends vaccination as the most effective way to prevent HPV infection and related virus-associated cancers. Experts recommend that the ideal age for HPV vaccination is between 9 and 14 years, before exposure to the virus, which generally means before the onset of sexual activity (including skin-to-skin contact).

HPV vaccination is currently the most effective proactive measure to prevent diseases caused by HPV, such as cervical cancer, anal cancer, penile cancer, oropharyngeal cancer, and conditions like genital warts. To maximize the efficacy of the vaccine, it is essential to adhere to the recommended vaccination schedule and complete the full series of doses.

For further information, please contact: