The Central Java provincial government has debunked social media rumours claiming that HPV vaccination causes impotence in boys, reaffirming the vaccine’s safety and purpose in disease prevention.
A social media claim that HPV vaccination is intended to make boys impotent has been flagged as false by the Central Java provincial government, which moved to counter the rumour after it spread on TikTok and stirred parental anxiety. The correction, published through the Padhang Nasional channel on 16 September 2026, said the allegation has no basis in fact.
According to the clarification, the human papillomavirus vaccine is given to protect against HPV infection, not to damage fertility or sexual function. In boys, health guidance cited by Padhang Nasional says vaccination is recommended to help prevent genital warts and anal cancer, undercutting the claim that it has a hidden purpose of causing impotence.
That position is consistent with guidance from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, which says HPV vaccines are safe and effective and are linked mainly to short-lived side effects such as soreness at the injection site, fever, headache or fatigue. The National Cancer Institute likewise says decades of monitoring have shown the vaccine to be safe, and the CDC’s clinical guidance says trials have found no serious adverse events tied to HPV vaccination. The episode is another reminder that health claims shared online should be checked against medical and public health sources before being passed on.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
