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Myanmar celebrates the launch of the HPV vaccine

Nearly half a million girls to be protected each year following the launch of the HPV, which will be provided with financial support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Here’s a closer look at the launch ceremony.

28 October 2020
3 min read
by Elinore Court
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<article> <h1> <span>Myanmar celebrates the launch of the HPV vaccine</span> </h1> <div><p>Nearly half a million girls to be protected each year following the launch of the HPV, which will be provided with financial support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Here’s a closer look at the launch ceremony.</p> </div> <ul> <li> <b>28 October 2020</b> </li> <li> <b class="me-2">by</b> <span> <a href="https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/authors/elinore-court" hreflang="en">Elinore Court</a> </span> </li> </ul> <figure> <img src="https://www.gavi.org/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33607_3.-The-third-child-is-seen-while-receiving-HPV-vaccine_h2.jpg" width="1440" height="963" alt="Gavi/2020" loading="lazy"> <figcaption>Gavi/2020</figcaption> </figure> <div> <div> <div> <a href="https://www.gavi.org#gallery" class="btn -orange">View photo gallery</a> </div> </div> <div> <span data-type="column" data-id="88486"></span> <div> <div> <div> <div> <p>The first girls in <a href="https://www.gavi.org/programmes-impact/country-hub/south-east-asia/myanmar" title="Myanmar">Myanmar</a> to receive the <a href="https://www.gavi.org/types-support/vaccine-support/human-papillomavirus" title="Human papillomavirus">human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines</a> did so amidst great fanfare. The vaccinations took place on stage at a launch ceremony in Nay Pyi Taw, the nation’s capital, on 20 October to celebrate the introduction of the vaccine into Myanmar’s routine immunisation programme.</p> <p>The launch means that from now on each year around 450,000 girls will be protected from the leading cause of cervical cancer in Myanmar, which currently has the second-highest incidence of cervical cancer in <a href="https://www.gavi.org/programmes-impact/country-hub/southeast-asia" title="Southeast Asia">Southeast Asia</a>.</p> <p>“The introduction of the HPV vaccine into the national immunisation programme, which will be available to all regardless of race, religion and ethnicity, is a huge investment for the government which will be beneficial to the country in the long term,” said State Counsellor H.E. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. “The availability of effective vaccines will enhance public confidence and trustworthiness and consequently will also improve immunisation coverage of other vaccines.”</p> <blockquote> <h2>The launch means that from now on each year around 450,000 girls will be protected from the leading cause of cervical cancer in Myanmar.</h2> </blockquote> <p>“Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, provides the HPV vaccines that will be used in Myanmar, and one vial of vaccine cost US$ 4.50. Gavi supports 88% of total vaccine costs while Myanmar government <a href="https://www.gavi.org/types-support/sustainability/co-financing" title="Co-financing">co-finances</a> the remaining 12% of total vaccine costs as well as the operation costs,” said Dirk Gehl, Senior Country Manager, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.</p> <p>“All children have the right to health and wellbeing, and access to vaccines is key to that right. Working closely with the Ministry of Health and Sports, the World Health Organization and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF will support efforts to bring vaccines to all girls aged 9 and 10<sup>1</sup> across Myanmar. Our joint efforts will place particular emphasis on reaching those in hard-to-reach areas and regions that are self-administered or controlled by particular ethnic groups,” explained June Kunugi, Representative of UNICEF Myanmar.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.gavi.org/covid19" title="Responding to COVID-19">COVID-19</a> pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have triggered global delays to vaccine introductions and immunisation campaigns due to factors like vaccine shortages, transport interruptions and restricted movements. Despite these added challenges, Lao PDR and Myanmar have introduced the HPV vaccine, with Cameroon to follow shortly.</p> <p>“Myanmar is among the countries with high rate of deaths due to cervical cancer caused by HPV. This introduction of HPV vaccine also reflects the Myanmar’s Ministry of Health and Sports efforts to achieve the WHO’s cervical cancer elimination target by 2030, all countries to reach < 4 cases of cervical cancer per 100,000 woman-years.” said Dr Stephan Paul Jost, WHO Representative to Myanmar.</p> <div> <p><em><sup>1</sup> Girls born between September 1, 2010 and August 31, 2011</em></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <span data-type="column" data-id="88496"></span> </div> <div> <div> <div> <div> <p><span id="gallery"> </span></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div> <h2>Photo gallery</h2> <div> <ul><li> <img src="https://www.gavi.org/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33605_1.-First-child-is-seen-while-waiting-to-receive-HPV-vaccine_h2.jpg" width="900" height="602" alt="The first girl to receive the HPV vaccine waits on stage as the vaccine is prepared. Gavi/2020" loading="lazy"> </li><li> <img src="https://www.gavi.org/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33606_2.-The-second-child-is-seen-while-receiving-HPV-vaccine_h2.jpg" width="900" height="602" alt="“Cervical cancer takes the lives of hundreds of thousands of women worldwide every year. For girls across the country the introduction of this safe and effective vaccine means they can look forward to a healthier future” - Thabani Maphosa, Gavi Managing Director for Country Programmes. Gavi/2020" loading="lazy"> </li><li> <img src="https://www.gavi.org/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33607_3.-The-third-child-is-seen-while-receiving-HPV-vaccine_h2.jpg" width="1440" height="963" alt="The vaccines, provided with financial support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, will aim to reach all girls aged 9-10 with their first of two doses administered twelve months apart. Gavi/2020" loading="lazy"> </li><li> <img src="https://www.gavi.org/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33608_4.-Group-photo-of-three-girls-received-HPV-vaccine_h2.jpg" width="900" height="600" alt="The first three girls to receive the HPV vaccine in Myanmar stand on stage together. Gavi/2020" loading="lazy"> </li><li> <img src="https://www.gavi.org/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33609_5.-Pre-recorded-opening-speech-video-by-State-Counsellor-H.E-Daw-Aung-San-Su-Kyi_h2.jpg" width="900" height="663" alt="“The introduction of the HPV vaccine into the national immunisation programme, which will be available to all regardless of race, religion and ethnicity, is a huge investment for the government which will be beneficial to the country in the long term,” said State Counsellor H.E. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Gavi/2020" loading="lazy"> </li><li> <img src="https://www.gavi.org/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33610_6.-Key-notes-address-by-Union-Minister-H.E-Dr-Myint-Htwe_h2.jpg" width="900" height="602" alt="“Immunisation is one of the most cost-effective interventions and can reduce incidence of cervical cancer, improve the quality of life for women and reduce the psychological stress and financial burden of cervical cancer” - Dr Myint Htwe, Myanmar’s Union Minister for Health and Sports. Gavi/2020" loading="lazy"> </li><li> <img src="https://www.gavi.org/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33611_7.-Booth-display-of-steps-to-be-followed-at--HPV-vaccination-session_h2.jpg" width="900" height="602" alt="A booth at the launch ceremony outlines the steps to be followed at the HPV immunisation session. Gavi/2020" loading="lazy"> </li><li> <img src="https://www.gavi.org/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33612_8.-Display-stand-of-HPV-related-communication-materials-and-guidelines_h2.jpg" width="900" height="602" alt="A display stand presents HPV-related information and guidelines. A vaccine information sheet will be distributed by health workers to provide information about cervical cancer and the benefits of the HPV vaccine to build trust and improve vaccine coverage. Gavi/2020" loading="lazy"> </li><li> <img src="https://www.gavi.org/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33613_9.-A-recent-study_h2.jpg" width="900" height="675" alt="A recent study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that women who were given the HPV vaccine before age 17 reduced their risk of developing cervical cancer by 88%. Gavi/2020" loading="lazy"> </li><li> <img src="https://www.gavi.org/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33614_10.-Group-photo-on-the-Launching-Ceremony-Union-Ministers-and-higher-officials-from-MoHS-and-MoE_h2.jpg" width="900" height="602" alt="Union Ministers and higher officials from the Ministry of Health and Sports and the Ministry of Education pictured at the launch ceremony. Gavi/2020" loading="lazy"> </li><li> <img src="https://www.gavi.org/sites/default/files/vaccineswork/2020/Thumbnail/RS33615_11.-Launching-Ceremony-following-the-social-distancing-measure_h2.jpg" width="900" height="602" alt="The launch ceremony in Nay Pyi Taw followed COVID-19 safety measures including physical distancing. Gavi/2020" loading="lazy"> </li></ul> </div> <div> <span class="btn js-btn -white">Load more</span> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/myanmar-celebrates-launch-hpv-vaccine">Original article</a> </p><p>This article was originally published on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork">VaccinesWork</a> </p><script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-M7H54VD');</script><noscript><iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-M7H54VD" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript></article>

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The first girls in Myanmar to receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines did so amidst great fanfare. The vaccinations took place on stage at a launch ceremony in Nay Pyi Taw, the nation’s capital, on 20 October to celebrate the introduction of the vaccine into Myanmar’s routine immunisation programme.

The launch means that from now on each year around 450,000 girls will be protected from the leading cause of cervical cancer in Myanmar, which currently has the second-highest incidence of cervical cancer in Southeast Asia.

“The introduction of the HPV vaccine into the national immunisation programme, which will be available to all regardless of race, religion and ethnicity, is a huge investment for the government which will be beneficial to the country in the long term,” said State Counsellor H.E. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. “The availability of effective vaccines will enhance public confidence and trustworthiness and consequently will also improve immunisation coverage of other vaccines.”

The launch means that from now on each year around 450,000 girls will be protected from the leading cause of cervical cancer in Myanmar.

“Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, provides the HPV vaccines that will be used in Myanmar, and one vial of vaccine cost US$ 4.50. Gavi supports 88% of total vaccine costs while Myanmar government co-finances the remaining 12% of total vaccine costs as well as the operation costs,” said Dirk Gehl, Senior Country Manager, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

“All children have the right to health and wellbeing, and access to vaccines is key to that right. Working closely with the Ministry of Health and Sports, the World Health Organization and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF will support efforts to bring vaccines to all girls aged 9 and 10¹ across Myanmar. Our joint efforts will place particular emphasis on reaching those in hard-to-reach areas and regions that are self-administered or controlled by particular ethnic groups,” explained June Kunugi, Representative of UNICEF Myanmar.

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have triggered global delays to vaccine introductions and immunisation campaigns due to factors like vaccine shortages, transport interruptions and restricted movements. Despite these added challenges, Lao PDR and Myanmar have introduced the HPV vaccine, with Cameroon to follow shortly.

“Myanmar is among the countries with high rate of deaths due to cervical cancer caused by HPV. This introduction of HPV vaccine also reflects the Myanmar’s Ministry of Health and Sports efforts to achieve the WHO’s cervical cancer elimination target by 2030, all countries to reach < 4 cases of cervical cancer per 100,000 woman-years.” said Dr Stephan Paul Jost, WHO Representative to Myanmar.