HPV vaccination: A game-changer in preventing cervical cancer
The vaccination offers a nearly 99 per cent protection rate against the disease.

With 90 to 95 per cent of cervical cancer cases caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), vaccination offers a nearly 99 per cent protection rate against the disease.
Prince Court Medical Centre Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O&G) specialist Dr Vigneswaran Ramakrishnan highlights the critical role of HPV vaccines, which are provided free to 12-year-old girls in Malaysian public schools under a government initiative.
However, the high cost for others remains a significant barrier to widespread uptake.
"Cervical cancer is the only type of cancer where we have a vaccine that can practically prevent it even if someone has malignant lesions of the cervix that are precancerous, the vaccine can still provide 75 to 80 per cent protection," he said to Sinar Daily.
According to Dr Vigneswaran, the only issue with the vaccine is that it is currently provided free by the Health Ministry for 12-year-old girls in government-run schools.
However, those in private schools or outside the target age group must pay out of pocket, with the three-dose course costing between RM1,600 and RM2,000, depending on the provider.
"In other schools you have to pay your own, from your own pocket and also for those who are not in standard six, they have to pay on their own and it can be quite costly because three courses over a period of six months can cost you somewhere between RM1,600 to RM2,000 ringgit depends where you go.'
"This high cost is a major hurdle for many. It used to be much cheaper, with earlier versions costing around RM600 for all three doses. Now, with the newer vaccines offering broader protection, prices have soared because there’s no competition in the market," he said.
Dr Vigneswaran further said that HPV is almost exclusively responsible for cervical cancer, however, it does not cause other reproductive cancers like ovarian or endometrial cancer.
This is why Dr Vigneswaran emphasised urged women between the age of nine to 45 to get themselves vaccinated.
"The vaccine is highly effective. If you're vaccinated, you’re 99.9 per cent free from developing cervical cancer. This is particularly important for individuals in the reproductive age group," he said.
Despite concerns surrounding vaccines, Dr Vigneswaran assured that HPV vaccines have minimal side effects.
"Like any vaccine or medication, side effects can occur, but they are negligible. The benefits far outweigh the risks,” he noted.
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