Effective next year, a human papillomavirus (HPV) immunisation programme will be introduced for 13-year-olds to protect them against cervical cancer.

Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai, in announcing this today, said the programme would cost the government RM150 million a year, involving 300,000 girls.

He said the matter had yet to be finalised, but it was very likely that its implementation would be through a school-based programme, instead of at government hospitals or clinics, as it would be easier for the girls to be given the vaccination.

The girls would need to get three doses of the HPV vaccine within six months in their lifetime to give them the best protection, he told reporters after launching the Crisis Relief Squad of MCA (CRSM) mobile clinic and a health awareness campaign here.

NONE Liow said the HPV vaccine was reported to be 98 percent effective in protecting against HPV types 16 and 18, which were known to cause up to 95 per cent of cervical cancers.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), HPV vaccine could reduce the incidence of cervical cancer by at least 70 percent, he added.

RM1,200 for three doses

Liow said the vaccine was available in the country and could be obtained at about RM1,200 for three doses in private hospitals.

"However, we will continue to negotiate with the vaccine providers to reduce the price to RM500 per person so that the public can get cheaper vaccine," he added.

He said cervical cancer was the second most common cancer, after breast cancer, among Malaysian women, with almost 2,000 new cases diagnosed every year.

"Chinese women have a higher risk of getting cervical cancer compared with women from other races," he added.

He also said that women should go for regular pap smear tests to detect any abnormalities and to seek early treatment should they be diagnosed with cancer.

- Bernama