[SHARE] Free HPV Vaccinations For Malaysian Women Born In 1990 To 1996

The National Population and Family Board (Lembaga Penduduk dan Pembangunan Keluarga Negara - LPPKN) recently announced that its HPV vaccination programme is now available for unmarried women born in 1990 to 1996 (21 to 27 years of age this year), as long as they are Malaysian citizens or a permanent residents of Malaysia. You can sign up for the vaccination programme in any Klinik Nur Sejahtera LPPKN in the country.

If you're already married or are born before 1990, you can still get vaccinated at RM540 for the entire course of vaccines (RM180 per shot).

1. Born in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, or 1996;
2. Not married / has never been married before; and
3. Not pregnant nor have severe allergies or serious diseases that require immediate medical attention.

Some important things to note:
- You might be required to pay RM15 for a quick medical check-up at the clinic.
- You will receive three shots of the HPV vaccine within a span of six months i.e. the first and second shot will be a month apart from each other, while the third and last shot is to be received half a year after the first. You should receive an appointment card indicating the date you should receive your subsequent shots.
- You should not get pregnant within a year after receiving the vaccination.
- The vaccination service is only available on certain days within a certain timeframe which may differ between branches. Please contact your nearest Klinik Nur Sejahtera for more info.
- Wear decent, modest clothing. It is, after all, a government-backed clinic.

1. Cervical cancer - virtually all cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV;
2. Anal cancer - about 95% of anal cancers are caused by HPV; and
3. Oropharyngeal cancers i.e. cancers of the middle part of the throat, including the soft palate, the base of the tongue, and the tonsils; about 70% are caused by HPV.

HPV also causes rarer cancers such as vaginal cancers (65% are caused by HPV), vulvar cancers (50%), and 35% of penile cancers.

HPV is transmitted via intimate sexual contact e.g. from having vaginal/anal sex, oral sex or other sex play. Hence, a person infected with HPV may transmit HPV to a sex partner, most of the time without knowing they themselves have been infected.

That is because most people have no idea they have been infected, as they never develop symptoms nor have health problems and in 9 out of 10 infected people, the infection tends to go away by themselves within two years.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), all girls and boys should get their recommended shots of the vaccine as early as 11 or 12 years old. Young adults who have yet to get vaccinated are encouraged to do so through age 26 for young women and 21 for young men.

Please refer to the LPPKN website to find your nearest Klinik Nur Sejahtera LPPKN.