Taipei: Taiwan will expand its free human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination initiative to include junior high school boys starting in September, alongside the existing program for girls, a government official announced on Monday. The expansion aims to address HPV-related health risks that affect both genders.

According to Focus Taiwan, the expanded vaccination program is set to benefit approximately 90,000 junior high male students, doubling the current outreach to a total of 180,000 students, as stated by Health Promotion Administration (HPA) Director-General Wu Chao-chun at a recent news conference. This event, organized in collaboration with several medical groups and the National Alliance of Presidents of Parents Associations, emphasized the importance of recognizing the impact of HPV on the health of both men and women.

In its first year, the program aims to achieve an 80-90 percent vaccination coverage rate among boys, complementing the 90 percent rate already achieved among girls. This initiative will involve vaccination teams visiting schools to administer the vaccine, and all eligible students are encouraged to participate, Wu explained. The HPV vaccine is an effective preventive measure against HPV-related cancers and diseases and aligns with the World Health Organization's (WHO) goal of eliminating cervical cancer by 2030.

Taiwan has maintained a 90 percent vaccination rate among junior high school girls over the past two years, in line with WHO recommendations for optimal protection. While HPV is commonly associated with cervical cancer in women, men are also at risk of HPV-related health issues. Lou Pei-jen, vice superintendent of National Taiwan University Hospital and president of the Taiwan Society of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, pointed out that HPV is linked to cancers such as oropharyngeal, oral, nasopharyngeal, and anal cancer, which are prevalent among men.

Lou highlighted that 30-50 percent of oropharyngeal cancers in Taiwan are associated with HPV, compared to higher percentages in Japan and Western countries. A recent study by a local medical team revealed that the prevalence of oral HPV among healthy adults in Taiwan is 2.1 percent in men and 1.6 percent in women, suggesting a significant rate of infection. Lou expressed hope for the future expansion of vaccination coverage to high school and college students, as well as unvaccinated adults.

The HPV vaccine has been implemented in over 140 countries globally, as noted by Lee Ping-ing, convener of Taiwan's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.