Girls in Hong Kong have two free routes to HPV vaccination: the regular school programme and a one-off catch-up programme.
School programme (Primary 5 and 6 girls)
HPV vaccine has been part of the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme since the 2019/20 school year. Primary 5 girls get the first dose and the second after they move up to Primary 6, all free. The Department of Health's School Immunisation Teams deliver it at school, arranged after parents receive notice and sign a consent form.
Catch-up programme (females born 2004–2008)
The government runs a one-off HPV catch-up programme for females born between 2004 and 2008 who weren't vaccinated before. It runs in three phases from 2024 to 2026 and offers two free doses. These women were past the vaccination age when the school programme launched, and the catch-up lets them get covered.
Which vaccine
The publicly funded programme uses the 9-valent HPV vaccine, which protects against nine HPV types covering most cervical and related cancers.
Timing of the two doses
When vaccination starts before age 15, the standard is two doses about 6 to 12 months apart. The school programme's two doses, given in Primary 5 and Primary 6, fit that interval.
HPV vaccine works best when given before exposure to the virus, which is why the publicly funded programme targets primary school girls.