Offering Deferment of Human Papillomavirus Vaccination to Female Students Beyond Secondary 2

Miss Cheng Li Hui asked the Minister for Health with regard to the National School-based Human Papillomavirus (HPV) programme (a) what are the considerations for offering fully subsidised HPV vaccinations to only eligible Secondary 1 and 2 female students; (b) whether these students are permitted to defer their vaccination to a period after Secondary 2; and (c) if not, whether the Ministry will consider permitting such deferment in view of the benefits.

The HPV vaccination is nationally recommended for females aged nine to 26 years for prevention of cervical cancer. MOH offers fully-subsidised (free) HPV vaccination to all female Secondary 1 students as part of HPB’s school-based health programme. Most countries with school-based HPV vaccination programmes do so around this age, as early vaccination can produce a higher immune response and prior to onset of sexual activity.

Secondary school-aged female students who did not receive or complete their HPV vaccination in school can still receive free HPV vaccination at HPB’s Student Health Centre.

Under the National Childhood Immunisation Schedule, free HPV vaccination is also available for Singaporean females aged 17 and below at Community Health Assist Scheme General Practitioner (CHAS GP) clinics and polyclinics. For Singaporean females 18 to 26 years of age, they can receive means-tested subsidies for the HPV vaccination at CHAS GP clinics and polyclinics as per the National Adult Immunisation Schedule. Information on this can be found on MOH website under Vaccination and Childhood Developmental Screening Subsidies (VCDSS).