TOKYO -- Japan is not making progress in vaccinations against the HPV, which causes cervical cancer.

As of January 2024, the HPV vaccine had been introduced into national immunization programs in 137 countries, more than 70% of the 194 member states of the World Health Organization (WHO).

In 59 of the 137 countries, not only women but also men are eligible for the shot, because women are not the only ones who can be infected with HPV. Men are at risk for anal and penile cancers caused by HPV. Furthermore, since HPV is a sexually transmitted infection, it is hoped that vaccinations for men will help prevent cervical cancer.

Although men are not subject to routine HPV vaccinations in Japan, some local governments, such as the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, are encouraging men to be vaccinated by providing their own public subsidies.

As of 2019, Japan's vaccination rate 3rd from bottom

The WHO has a goal of eliminating cervical cancer and has set a target of 90% HPV vaccination coverage among girls up to age 15 by 2030.

According to reports by the WHO and the UNICEF, the estimated worldwide HPV immunization coverage for girls aged 9 to 14 as of 2019 was 15% for the "final immunization coverage," which is the completion of the required multiple doses, and 20% for the "first immunization coverage," which refers to the completion of the first dose.

The five countries with final vaccination rates above 90% are: Turkmenistan at 99%, Mexico at 95%, Rwanda at 94%, Norway at 91% and Brunei at 90%.

Among major countries, some have high vaccination rates: 83% in Canada, 82% in the U.K. and 79% in Australia, while others have low rates: 40% in Italy, 39% in the U.S. and 24% in France.

Meanwhile, Japan's vaccination rate is 0.3%. The Japanese government as of 2019 had refrained from actively recommending HPV shots by sending postcards and other means, and the immunization rate was extremely low, ranking third from the bottom among the 99 countries for which data was available.

As of the end of September 2024, the first-round vaccination rate had risen to 34.5% to 86.9% among the generation eligible for vaccination "catch-ups" (late teens to late 20s born in fiscal 1997 to 2007).

The frequency of serious adverse reactions reported for the HPV vaccine is three to five per 10,000 people. The Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare said, "The safety and efficacy of HPV vaccinations have been confirmed, and we want to make sure that everyone is aware of this."

(Japanese original by Koji Endo, Tokyo City News Department)