More Than 12,000 Mongolian Youth Immunized Against HPV

Ulan Bator, Dec 6 (NationPress) A total of 12,847 children who are 11 years old have received vaccinations against the human papillomavirus (HPV) as part of Mongolia's national campaign, as reported by the Health Ministry. This vaccination effort, which officially commenced late last month, is designed to tackle cervical cancer—a major public health issue in Mongolia.

Hospitals throughout the nation are providing free HPV vaccinations to both 11-year-old girls and boys with the consent of their parents or guardians, following the government’s recent decision in December 2023 to incorporate the HPV vaccine into the National Immunisation Schedule for this age group, as reported by Xinhua news agency citing local media.

The ministry indicates that there are over 78,600 children aged 11 in Mongolia, a nation with a population of 3.5 million, who qualify for this vaccination initiative.

This campaign is a vital component of Mongolia's extensive plan to lower the rates of HPV-related cancers, especially cervical cancer, which ranks as the second most common cancer among women in the country and the fourth most prevalent cancer overall.

In the year 2023, Mongolia documented 425 new cases of cervical cancer along with 165 deaths attributed to the disease within its population of 3.5 million. Furthermore, approximately 4,700 women are actively undergoing treatment for this illness, according to the National Center for Cancer Research and Control (NCCD).

By focusing on HPV vaccinations, Mongolia intends to substantially reduce the occurrence of cervical cancer and other HPV-related health issues, thereby protecting the well-being of its future generations.