On April 15, China launched its first-dose HPV vaccination campaign for men using the imported 9-valent vaccine. The rollout began in several cities, including Changsha, Guangzhou, and Xi’an. This vaccine is the only 9-valent HPV vaccine approved in China for both men and women.
The campaign marks a new phase in the fight against HPV. It focuses on preventing HPV-related cancers and diseases in both sexes and aims to stop the virus at its source.
Tian Anna, Senior Vice President of Merck Global and President of Merck China, called the vaccine’s new approval a major milestone. “Gardasil’s updated approval after six years is a big step forward for public health in China,” she said.
China first approved the vaccine in 2017 for females aged 9 to 45. This is the first time it’s being offered to males on the Chinese mainland. The 9-valent vaccine protects against nine strains of HPV.
Most HPV infections show no symptoms. However, they can lead to cervical cancer in women and penile, anal, and throat cancers in men.
Qiao Youlin, a researcher at Peking Union Medical College, pointed out that men have a higher global HPV infection rate than women. Yet, male infections often receive less attention.
Experts worldwide urge vaccinating both genders. This approach broadens coverage and helps build herd immunity.
Written by Yi Shen, additional reporting by Xinhua, China Daily and Ecns.cn.
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