Vietnam is set to incorporate the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine into its national immunisation programme from July 2026, marking a significant step in its fight against HPV-related cancers and shifting focus towards early prevention strategies.
Việt Nam is moving to broaden its fight against human papillomavirus as the country folds the vaccine into its national immunisation effort, with health officials casting the step as part of a wider push to prevent cancer before it starts. The Ministry of Health has said the HPV vaccine will be included in the mandatory programme from 1 July 2026, with records, supplies and monitoring handled through the national immunisation information system.
That policy shift formed the backdrop to a scientific symposium in HCM City organised by the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology and MSD Vietnam. The event brought together Vietnamese and international experts to review two decades of evidence on HPV prevention, including long-term follow-up data and real-world experience from vaccination programmes around the world.
Prof. Phan Trọng Lân, director of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, said HPV is among the most common sexually transmitted infections and can lead to cervical cancer as well as cancers of the vulva, vagina, anus, penis and throat. He argued that vaccination should be seen not only as a women’s health measure but as a cancer prevention strategy for both sexes, especially as Việt Nam begins phased introduction of the vaccine in selected localities.
The public health case is significant. GLOBOCAN 2024 estimates that HPV-related cancers account for about 870,000 new cases and nearly 392,000 deaths each year worldwide, with cervical cancer making up the largest share. In Việt Nam, HPV-related cancers are estimated to cause more than 10,000 new cases and over 5,200 deaths annually, including about 8,270 cervical cancer cases and 4,110 deaths. Health experts at the symposium said many patients are still diagnosed late, which reduces treatment success and pushes up costs for families and the health system.
Assoc. Prof. Dương Thị Hồng, deputy director of NIHE, said experience from countries with long-running cervical cancer prevention strategies shows that investment in HPV prevention delivers lasting value. MSD Vietnam medical director Ramar Rubentiran said the company’s three decades in the country have included scientific exchange and evidence-based prevention work, while Prof. Phan said the next challenge is turning evidence into policy and policy into fair, sustainable coverage. The symposium concluded that Việt Nam now has both the tools and the evidence to build a more organised HPV prevention strategy aimed at reducing cancer burden over time.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
