INFORMATION ON HPV VACCINATION IN VIETNAM

Types of HPV Vaccines

The Papilloma (HPV) vaccine was first announced in 2006. Currently, there are two common types of HPV vaccines: Gardasil 4-valent and Gardasil 9-valent. Gardasil 4 vaccine is indicated for women and girls to prevent 4 HPV types: 6, 11, 16, and 18 that cause disease. Gardasil 9 vaccine protects against 9 common HPV virus types—6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58—that cause cervical cancer, vulvar cancer, vaginal cancer, anal cancer, throat cancer, genital warts, etc., with protection effectiveness of over 90%. This vaccine can be used for both males and females.

​

Target Population and Vaccination Age

Many studies have shown that vaccination is most effective when administered early to children aged 9-14. This is the period when children do not yet have a high risk of HPV exposure. The earlier the vaccination, the higher the protection effectiveness.

Previously, HPV vaccination was only common in children. Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved expanding the age indication for the 9-valent HPV vaccine to people aged 27 to 45. According to the latest guidance from Vietnam's Ministry of Health, males, females, and the LGBT community aged 9-45 can now receive the Gardasil 9 vaccine to protect against 9 common HPV virus types: 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58.

Currently, there is no evidence showing that vaccination will affect pregnancy or harm the fetus. However, to ensure the health of pregnant women and fetuses, experts recommend that women complete the HPV vaccine series ideally 3 months or at least 1 month before becoming pregnant. If a woman becomes pregnant before completing the 3 doses, vaccination should be postponed to continue the pregnancy until after delivery. Medical consultation is also necessary.

​

Number of Doses

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), for children aged 9 to under 15, two doses of HPV vaccine (Gardasil 9 type) may be sufficient to provide optimal immune response and antibodies. However, for those receiving the Gardasil vaccine or those aged 15 to 45 receiving the Gardasil 9 vaccine, a full 3-dose schedule is indicated to provide the highest effectiveness and long-lasting immunogenicity.

​

Price

Depending on the vaccine type and vaccination facility, HPV vaccination prices can range from 1,790,000 - 3,000,000 VND per dose. Specifically, Gardasil vaccine (preventing 4 HPV strains) costs approximately 1,790,000 - 1,800,000 VND per dose, while Gardasil 9 vaccine (preventing 9 HPV strains) costs from 2,900,000 to 3,000,000 VND per dose. The vaccine is not subsidized by health insurance, so users must pay the full amount themselves.

​

Reality of HPV Vaccination in Vietnam

According to statistics, on average each day, Vietnam has approximately 14 women diagnosed with and 7 women dying from cervical cancer. According to estimates, by 2025, the annual number of women dying from cervical cancer will increase to over 4,000 cases if there is no effective solution to this situation. Vietnam records approximately 6,200 HPV-related cancer cases each year, of which more than 2,500 women die from cervical cancer. This number could rise to 200,000 by 2070. Nevertheless, implementing HPV vaccination is by no means easy due to supply shortages and economic pressure on nations.

In Vietnam, during 2007-2008, the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE) and the PATH organization successfully implemented a two-year pilot project aimed at testing HPV vaccine distribution strategies and received very promising results. However, due to resource issues, Vietnam has not been able to scale up.

In 2015, the Ministry of Health developed the National Action Plan for Cervical Cancer Prevention and Control for the period 2016-2025. This serves as the orientation and foundation for improving access to HPV vaccines in Vietnam.

On August 15, 2022, the Government issued Resolution No. 104/NQ-CP on the roadmap for increasing the number of vaccines in the Expanded Immunization Program for the period 2021-2030, which includes the cervical cancer prevention vaccine in the program from 2026, while allowing localities that can allocate funding to implement it earlier for the public. However, "In Vietnam, as of 2023, only 12% of women and girls aged 15-29 have received the HPV vaccine." (National Library of Medicine)

In March 2025, the HPV awareness campaign "For a Vietnam Unburdened by HPV" was officially launched in Hanoi. This is the first time a campaign on HPV prevention has been widely deployed by the Ministry of Health on a nationwide scale. This campaign has created impact through communication via social media platforms such as Zalo, Facebook, etc. The campaign reached over 11 million accounts on the Ministry of Health's Zalo OA, helping raise community awareness about HPV vaccination. Beyond that, in Hanoi, the AI technology exhibition on HPV prevention recorded more than 25,000 visits in the first days of opening. These are Vietnam's efforts in spreading HPV vaccination. Thanks to this, people have learned about and gained access to a shield to protect themselves.

According to plans, HPV will be included in the Expanded Immunization Program from 2026 for 11-year-old girls in Vietnam. Despite many difficulties, implementing vaccination is necessary to contribute to building a sustainable health foundation for the community in this era of national advancement.