Taiwan’s publicly funded HPV vaccination programme, now in its second year, is achieving high uptake among boys and girls and is beginning to bridge longstanding gender gaps, with experts highlighting its potential to prevent multiple cancers across genders.
Taiwan’s publicly funded HPV vaccination programme has entered its second year covering boys and girls, with first-dose uptake among boys reaching 81.6% and girls 91.9% in the first year, according to the Liberty Times. Health experts say the gender-neutral approach is beginning to narrow a long-standing gap and could help Taiwan build broader community protection against a virus that can lead to several cancers.
Lu Yi-hsing, head of the Taiwan Head and Neck Oncology Society, has argued that HPV is not a girls-only issue. He said the virus is linked not only to cervical cancer, but also to cancers of the anus, penis and throat, and that vaccinating boys matters because it reduces transmission as well as individual risk. Research published in JAMA Oncology has found that HPV vaccination in males is associated with a lower risk of HPV-related cancers, including head and neck, anal and penile cancers.
The public-health case for vaccinating boys is also supported by broader evidence on early immunisation. A cohort study in JAMA Oncology found that vaccinated women had lower rates of high-grade vulvovaginal lesions, with the strongest benefit among those immunised at younger ages. Separate modelling cited by the Immunization Economics community suggests that a gender-neutral HPV programme in Taiwan would avert more disease and deaths than a female-only strategy, while also being cost-effective.
Taiwan began expanding public HPV vaccination to all junior-high students last year, becoming the first East Asian country to offer boys two full public doses, according to the Liberty Times. The first cohort reached about 213,000 students. Officials now want boys’ uptake to rise to 85% this year, closer to the 90%-plus level already seen among girls.
Under the current schedule, children aged nine to 14 receive two doses at least six months apart. From September, the first dose will be delivered in schools, with the second planned for the first half of 2027. Taiwan’s health authorities are also rolling out electronic consent forms, while still allowing paper forms for families that prefer them.
Lu said parents should avoid sending children for vaccination on an empty stomach and keep them under observation for 15 minutes afterwards. If a student misses the school session, a catch-up notice can be taken to a contracted clinic. He also stressed that vaccination does not replace cervical cancer screening in adulthood.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
