TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Ministry of Health clarified the misinformation spread in regard to the Human Papillomavirus or HPV vaccine, claiming that it is causing infertility. Ministry spokesperson Mohammad Syahril stated that the information is untrue.

"The safety of HPV immunization is guaranteed and it generally does not cause any serious reaction post-injection," Syahril said in a statement on Tuesday.

Syahril explained that HPV immunization is given to prevent cervical cancer. He added that the success rate is up to 100% if given to 9 to 13-year-old girls in two doses.

Regarding the side effects, the vaccine could cause redness, swelling, or pain in the arm where the shot was given, as well as fever. The side effects may last up to three days.

Indonesia is committed to preventing cervical cancer with the addition of the HPV vaccine to the National Immunization Program in 2023. "At this time, there are 135 countries that include HPV vaccine in their national immunization program including Malaysia, Singapore, the US, the UK, and France," he said.

HPV Vaccine is given in two doses for girls before graduating from elementary school. The vaccine is given every August during the BIAS program.

Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin previously mentioned that cervical cancer needs immediate intervention to ensure appropriate treatment. "Thus, the first thing to do is prevention. Since prevention is cheaper and ensures a better quality of life. We have to detect cancer as early as possible," he said.

According to data released by Globocan, the total cases of cervical cancer in Indonesia in 2020 reached 36,633 cases, or 9.2% of the total cases of cancer in the country.

ANTARA

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