Tibet inoculates thousands of girls with HPV vaccine

More than 45,000 female students in the Tibet autonomous region have received free HPV shots as of Sep 15 this year to prevent cervical cancer, Tibet Daily reported.

According to the regional Health Commission, Tibet incorporated the HPV vaccination of female students of the right age as a livelihood project of the government last year, making it one of the few leading areas in China that carried out full coverage of the free HPV vaccinations. By 2025, the aim is to achieve a coverage rate above 80 percent.

Cervical cancer is among the most common gynecological problems, with more than 90,000 new confirmed cases of cervical cancer occurring in China every year. More than 30,000 patients die from the disease every year.

The HPV vaccine was the first vaccine developed to prevent cervical cancer. Females aged between 9 and 14 are ideal candidates for vaccination. Two doses of HPV vaccine for females in early adolescence is recommended for prevention and control.

To help girls at the grassroots level of the region benefit from standardized scientific prevention and treatment services for breast and cervical cancer, the commission has organized regional online training activities to spread knowledge.

The commission also recommended 93 screening institutes for the two cancers, and 136 institutes for HPV vaccination, making it convenient for people to receive consultation services from a nearby location.