The Ministry of Health announced that cervical cancer vaccination can reduce the rate of HPV infection — the virus that causes cervical cancer — by up to 83% among girls aged 13 to 19, and lower early-stage cancer cases by 31% among girls aged 15 to 19.

At a coordination meeting on November 10 in Nay Pyi Taw, Union Minister Prof. Dr. Thet Khaing Win highlighted that cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women globally, and the third most common in developing countries. About 70% of cervical cancer cases are caused by HPV types 16 and 18, which are included in the current vaccine used in Myanmar. The vaccine also protects against HPV types 6 and 11, which can cause genital warts.

Myanmar’s school-based HPV vaccination program has achieved 90% coverage, and efforts will now expand to reach out-of-school girls aged 9 to 11 starting December 2025. In 2026, the program will further extend to cover girls aged 9 to 18 under the Multi-Age Cohort (MAC-HPV) vaccination initiative.

The HPV vaccination program in Myanmar is supported by the GAVI Alliance, with co-financing from the government.