KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will start vaccinating girls in Year Six against human papillomavirus (HPV) beginning this year as part of the national effort to strengthen cervical cancer prevention, says the Health Ministry.
The shifting of the country’s HPV immunisation programme from secondary to primary schools this year is expected to provide earlier protection in line with World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations, reduce missed vaccination opportunities caused by school transitions or dropouts, and improve overall HPV vaccination uptake.
“To further strengthen primary prevention, Malaysia will implement a policy change beginning in 2026 to shift the HPV vaccination target age from 13-year-old girls (Form One, secondary school) to 12-year-old girls (Year Six, primary school),” the Health Ministry said in a written interview with Sunday Star.
Cervical cancer is the sixth most common among women in Malaysia and the fourth most common among women worldwide. More than 99% of cases are caused by persistent infection with high-risk HPV.
January is observed globally as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, aimed at raising awareness about prevention, early detection and treatment.
Malaysia’s HPV immunisation programme was introduced in 2010 and aims to prevent cervical cancer in support of the WHO’s global strategy to eliminate the disease, which targets 90% HPV vaccination coverage among girls before the age of 15 by 2030.
According to the ministry, the school-based programme has consistently achieved high coverage, exceeding 90% of the target population between 2010 and 2024.
Parents, as key decision-makers in their children’s health, play a crucial role in the programme’s success. Their understanding of the benefits of HPV vaccination directly influences vaccine acceptance and uptake, the ministry said.
“HPV vaccination protects against the human papillomavirus, which is the primary cause of cervical cancer – a disease that remains a significant public health concern,” it said.
“By supporting HPV vaccination, parents help ensure their daughters are protected before potential exposure to the virus, when the vaccine is most effective.”
The ministry added that early vaccination not only lowers the risk of cervical cancer later in life but also contributes to herd immunity by reducing overall HPV transmission in the community.
The National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM) has welcomed the move to lower the age of HPV vaccination and commended the Health Ministry’s proactive approach.
According to NCSM managing director Prof Dr Murallitharan Munisamy, a significant number of girls in Malaysia do not proceed to Form One, or drop out of school, resulting in missed HPV vaccination.
“Some get married, some end up in jail, and others drop out due to poverty. Due to these reasons and others, many girls did not receive the HPV vaccination,” he said. “By vaccinating students in primary schools, we reach a larger cohort, and that is a positive step.”
However, Dr Murallitharan stressed that a more effective long-term strategy would include vaccinating boys alongside girls.
“Vaccinating girls alone is not enough. Boys can still contract and transmit HPV. Only when boys are vaccinated as well can we truly stop the virus from spreading,” he said.
Vaccinating boys can also offer wider protection from other related cancers, as HPV is also linked to cancers of the mouth, throat, penis and anus, which can also impact boys and men.
According to the WHO, the primary target of HPV vaccination is girls aged nine to 14, prior to the start of sexual activity and before any exposure to the virus. The vaccination of secondary targets such as boys and older females is recommended where feasible and affordable.
Australia, which carries out gender-neutral HPV vaccination for all adolescents and young adults aged 12 to 26 years, is on track to become the first country to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem by 2035.
