Take-up Rate for HPV Vaccination Among Eligible Females in Singapore

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef asked the Minister for Health (a) over the last three years, what is the take-up rate for the HPV (human papilloma virus) vaccination amongst the recommended age group of 9 to 26 year-old females; and (b) what course of action is being planned to enhance the take-up rate.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: HPV vaccination was added to the National Childhood Immunisation Schedule (NCIS) in November 2010. The vaccine is recommended by the Expert Committee for Immunisation (ECI) for girls aged 9 to 26 years old.

As notification is voluntary, our data on the take-up rate for HPV is based on the numbers who have made claims from Medisave. Based on this, over the past three years, from 2012 to 2014, 34,209 persons have taken up HPV vaccinations.

To raise the awareness of HPV vaccination among girls aged 9 to 26 years, information on HPV infection and the vaccination is included in print media, such as parents and women’s magazines, and disseminated through professional healthcare societies such as the Obstetrics & Gynaecological Society of Singapore (OGSS) and the College of Family Physicians. HPV-related information will also be made available to the public on digital media in May 2015 on HPB’s Screen for Life website. We will continue to monitor the uptake of HPV vaccination and work to increase awareness of the benefits of vaccination.