Studies by University of Malaya show that Malaysia’s HPV vaccination programme has resulted in a 90% reduction in HPV types 16 and 18, the main causes of cervical cancer.
Khairy Jamaluddin says 97% of Form 1 girls were fully inoculated with the HPV vaccine in 2020, but this dropped to 6% in 2021 – due to a global HPV vaccine shortage, not because of school closures.
Health PSC chair Dr Kelvin Yii wants the HPV inoculation drive, including a catch-up programme, to be made top priority and to be clearly reflected in Budget 2023.
NCSM and other advocates urge the government to restart the nationwide HPV vaccination programme in 2023 and to implement a catch-up programme for teen girls who missed their shots.