April 21, 2026 | 02:33 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Health Ministry will expand the coverage of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination to include males starting this year. This strategic move aims to curb the transmission of the virus responsible for cervical cancer.
According to Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin, the vaccine program has exclusively focused on females thus far. However, he noted that males play a critical role as carriers of the virus, which can then be transmitted to women.
"Women are most affected as they can develop cervical cancer, but the transmission can come from males," Budi stated during a working session with Commission IX of the House of Representatives at the Parliament Building in Jakarta on Monday, April 20, 2026.
Budi explained that the national HPV vaccination initiative is designed to lower the incidence of cervical cancer, which remains a leading cause of mortality among Indonesian women. Therefore, the program initially targeted school-age girls, specifically those aged 10-11, before expanding to include adolescents.
While cervical cancer specifically affects women, Budi maintained that an approach targeting only one gender is insufficient. Drawing on global benchmarks, he noted that the HPV vaccine is far more effective at breaking the chain of transmission when administered to both males and females.
"If only females are vaccinated, the burden of protection remains one-sided. In many countries, providing the HPV vaccine to both males and females has proven more effective in reducing transmission," Budi remarked.
Furthermore, extending the vaccine to males is expected to bolster public acceptance of the immunization program. Budi cited international evidence suggesting that women are more likely to embrace the vaccination when males are equally involved in the effort.
Budi urged the public to cast aside any hesitation or fear regarding the vaccine. He emphasized that vaccination stands as one of the most effective and cost-efficient preventive health interventions for reducing disease and mortality rates. "Evidence from various nations shows that widespread HPV vaccination can significantly reduce cervical cancer cases," he concluded.
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