• Around 450,000 girls aged 9-101 will receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which protects against the leading cause of cervical cancer

  • Myanmar currently has the second-highest incidence of cervical cancer in Southeast Asia

  • The vaccine will be rolled out with stringent COVID-19 safety measures in place, including physical distancing and catch-up immunisations for the 73 “stay-at-home townships” currently under tighter restrictions

Nay Pyi Taw, 27 October 2020 – Around 450,000 girls each year will be protected from the leading cause of cervical cancer following the introduction of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine into Myanmar’s routine immunisation programme.

In putting in place the programme, Myanmar’s Union Minister for Health and Sports, H.E. Dr Myint Htwe, outlined stringent COVID-19 safety measures at the launch ceremony in the nation’s capital including strict physical distancing and catch-up immunisations for the 73 stay-at-home townships that are currently under tighter COVID-19 restrictions.

Myanmar has the second-highest incidence of cervical cancer among Southeast Asian countries, amounting to 21 cases per 100,000 women. In 2018, 6,472 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer in Myanmar, of which 3,856 died.

“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 vaccines, provided with financial support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, will aim to reach all girls aged between 9-101 in two doses administered twelve months apart.

“Cervical cancer is a preventable and curable disease, as long as it is detected early and managed effectively,” said Dr Myint Htwe, Myanmar’s Union Minister for Health and Sports. “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. We will strive to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem.”

“The fact that the Government of Myanmar has been able to introduce this life-saving vaccine in the midst of a pandemic is testament to the government’s commitment to improving public health,” said Thabani Maphosa, Gavi Managing Director for Country Programmes. “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.”

The Ministry for Health and Sports also outlined other key elements of the World Health Organization’s strategy to eliminate cervical cancer including early screening and treatments for pre-cancerous lesions. Invitation cards and 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.

Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Gavi-eligible countries and globally, one woman dies of cervical cancer every two minutes. Without changes in prevention and control, cervical cancer deaths are set to rise from about 311,000 women each year, to 416,000 by 2035.

As of the end of 2019, Gavi has supported the immunisation of 4.8 million girls and helped 18 countries introduce HPV vaccines, including 8 countries in 2019 alone. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Gavi-eligible countries have continued prioritising this life-saving vaccine. Myanmar, Lao PDR and Cameroon will have all introduced this vital vaccine in 2020.

1 Girls born between September 1, 2010 and August 31, 2011

Notes to editors

About Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is a public-private partnership that helps vaccinate half the world’s children against some of the world’s deadliest diseases. Since its inception in 2000, Gavi has helped to immunise a whole generation – over 822 million children – and prevented more than 14 million deaths, helping to halve child mortality in 73 developing countries. Gavi also plays a key role in improving global health security by supporting health systems as well as funding global stockpiles for Ebola, cholera, meningitis and yellow fever vaccines. After two decades of progress, Gavi is now focused on protecting the next generation and reaching the unvaccinated children still being left behind, employing innovative finance and the latest technology – from drones to biometrics – to save millions more lives, prevent outbreaks before they can spread and help countries on the road to self-sufficiency. Learn more at www.gavi.org and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

The Vaccine Alliance brings together developing country and donor governments, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry, technical agencies, civil society, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other private sector partners. View the full list of donor governments and other leading organizations that fund Gavi’s work here.

Media Contacts

James Fulker, Media Manager
Mob: +41 79 429 5505
Email: jfulker@gavi.org

Iryna Mazur, Senior Media Manager 
Mob: +41 79 429 3671 
Email: imazur@gavi.org

Meghana Sharafudeen, Media Manager 
Mob: +41 79 711 5554 
Email: msharafudeen@gavi.org

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