HPV Vaccination Rate for Junior High Boys in Taiwan Exceeds 80% After One Year

Central News Agency, Taipei, June 1. The public-funded HPV vaccination program for junior high school boys has reached its one-year milestone, with the first-dose coverage exceeding 80%. The vaccination rate for junior high school girls has also stabilized at 90%. The Health Promotion Administration (HPA) reminds the public that adolescence is the golden period for vaccination and urges early establishment of cancer prevention barriers. HPV threats are gender-neutral. Accumulated medical evidence confirms that HPV is linked to various cancers, and both men and women face risks upon infection. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends vaccination before exposure to HPV for optimal protection. Since last September, the HPA has included junior high boys in the public-funded program, with the first-dose rate reaching 81.6%. Girls have been eligible since 2018, currently meeting the WHO's 2030 goal of 90% for cervical cancer elimination. HPA section chief Hsieh Pei-chun stated that the performance is excellent and expects further growth. As of mid-May, the girls' first-dose rate reached 92.2%. The HPA has allocated approximately NT$550 million for 2026. HPV vaccines are not just 'cervical cancer vaccines' but prevent HPV-related cancers in both genders, including oropharyngeal and anal cancers.