Jakarta Launches Effort to Ensure HPV Vaccination for All 15-Year-Old Girls

TheIndonesia.co - The Jakarta provincial government is intensifying efforts to ensure that all girls in the city receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, a crucial step in reducing the risk of cervical cancer.

"We are focusing on reaching as many 15-year-old girls as possible across Jakarta for HPV vaccination," stated Dwi Oktavia, Deputy Head of the Jakarta Health Service, on Thursday, according to Antara News Agency.

The initiative aims to extend coverage to 15-year-olds in social shelters, informal schools, and among street children, totaling around 39,000 girls.

Oktavia highlighted that immunization is one of the most effective strategies for preventing a range of health issues, including various types of cancer.

"Cervical cancer, a leading cause of suffering and death among women, is caused by HPV infection in its early stages. Vaccination is essential to preventing this non-communicable disease," she explained.

Jakarta has been a pioneer in HPV vaccination, having initiated the program for fifth and sixth-grade students back in 2016. This early intervention aimed to protect young girls from cervical cancer before marriage.

While the HPV vaccination program has been rolled out nationwide, it faced setbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted access to vaccines for many girls. In response, the government has launched a targeted HPV vaccination policy for 15-year-olds who missed their doses during the pandemic.

"We are fast-tracking this program to ensure that children in the 15-year-old age group, who were unable to receive the full HPV vaccination in elementary school, are protected," Oktavia said.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged countries to include the HPV vaccine in their national immunization programs, with the ultimate goal of reaching 90 percent vaccination coverage for girls aged 15 by 2030.