Singapore will expand its HPV vaccination programme in January 2027 by introducing Gardasil 9, offering broader protection against cervical cancer for women and adolescents, alongside subsidies and updated schedules.
Singapore will expand its public vaccination offer for human papillomavirus from 1 January 2027, when HPV9, marketed as Gardasil 9, is added to the country’s childhood and adult immunisation schedules and the subsidised vaccine list. The Ministry of Health said the change is aimed at widening protection against cervical cancer for eligible Singaporean and permanent resident females aged 9 to 26.
The move gives families and young women a broader option alongside HPV2, or Cervarix, which will remain available as an alternative. HPV4, formerly sold as Gardasil, will be removed from the schedules because it is no longer available in Singapore. Health authorities said both HPV2 and HPV9 protect against the virus types responsible for about 70 per cent of cervical cancers, but HPV9 also covers additional strains linked to another 20 per cent, lifting its overall coverage to around 90 per cent.
The Expert Committee on Immunisation recommends two doses for girls who begin vaccination between ages 9 and 14, and three doses for those who start between 15 and 26. Those who begin a course with HPV2 or HPV4 will be allowed to finish with HPV9, with the authorities saying mixed schedules are safe and acceptable. No extra doses are recommended for people who have already completed the full course with HPV2, HPV4 or HPV9.
The school-based programme run by the Health Promotion Board will also switch to HPV9 from the same date. Secondary 1 and Secondary 2 female students are vaccinated at no charge under the programme, and girls in the 2026 Secondary 1 cohort who receive HPV2 as their first dose will get HPV9 for the second dose in school in 2027. Students who have already completed their series will not be given additional HPV9 doses.
Funding rules will differ by eligibility group. Singaporean children will receive full subsidies for HPV9 at CHAS general practitioner clinics and polyclinics. Eligible Singaporean adults will get means-tested subsidies of up to 75 per cent in those settings, while eligible permanent residents will receive subsidies at polyclinics. The vaccine can also be paid for using MediSave by people in the recommended groups, subject to the usual Chronic and Preventive Care limits of S$700 or S$1,000 a year, depending on the patient’s circumstances.
The Ministry of Health said subsidies and MediSave cannot be used for extra doses beyond the recommended course. Appointments at participating CHAS clinics can be booked through vaccine.gov.sg, while polyclinics take bookings directly. Those enrolled in Healthier SG are being encouraged to arrange vaccination at their registered clinic. The ministry has also warned the public to stay alert to scams impersonating official communications and to verify suspicious messages.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
