Colorized electron micrograph of HPV virus particles (yellow) harvested and purified from cell culture supernatant. Captured at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. Credit: NIAID 

MANILA — The Department of Health will begin the free immunization of Filipino girls from the human papillomavirus (HPV), after its funding was included in the 2025 national budget, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said Thursday.

“Nahingi ko sa Presidente at nabigay naman, ay i-budget na ang Human Papilloma Virus or HPV vaccination sa lahat ng batang babae,” Herbosa said in a televised briefing.

“Very important ito dahil mahal ang HPV vaccination P4,000 per dose, 2 doses so P8,000 for a nine-year-old girl. Pinondohan na ko ng Presidente for 2025. For 2025, we can vaccinate all Filipino girls.”

HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). It said almost all sexually active people will be infected at some point in their lives, usually without symptoms. 

It said HPV usually goes away on its own without treatment. However, some infections cause genital warts. Others can cause abnormal cells to develop, which go on to become cancer.

Cervical cancer is the most common type of cancer caused by HPV. Cancers from HPV can be prevented with vaccines, added the WHO.  

I have HPV. What should I do?

Herbosa said the HPV immunization drive could significantly bring down cervical cancer in the Philippines.

“Ang effect nyan mawawala ang cervical cancer. Well, kailangan pa nating ma-vaccinate ang mga lalake kasi sa ibang bansa pati boys binigyan na rin nila. Malaking bilyon din yan,” he said.

New HPV test crucial step for eradicating cervical cancer

Meanwhile, the DOH is targeting to step up its immunization program to increase the country’s 60 percent immunization rate of Filipino children to 95 percent, Herbosa said.

“Mababa tayo sa 60 percent ng children kasi tumaas ang antivaxxer at mababa rin ang subsequent doses. Madami pa tayong 0 dose. So yun ang kinokorek namin, mawala ang zero-dose children at next na ikoko-correct namin mareach ang 95 percent immunized children para may herd immunity,” he said.

UN alarmed as childhood immunization levels stall