DIY to Receive HPV Vaccine for Boys Starting August 2026

The Indonesian Ministry of Health will begin administering the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to boys in grade 5 of primary school, or aged around 11, in the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) in August 2026, coinciding with the School Children Immunisation Month (BIAS). In addition to DIY, the vaccine will also be given in DKI Jakarta and Bali. The provision of the HPV vaccine to boys will be carried out in stages before being expanded nationally.

“So indeed, this year we plan for the BIAS in August, we will start the introduction of HPV vaccination for boys in three provinces. So that’s right, in Yogyakarta, then Jakarta, and Bali,” said the Director of Immunisation at the Indonesian Ministry of Health, Dr Indri Yogyaswari, MARS, during a press conference on Tuesday (4/8/2026).

Indri stated that administering the HPV vaccine to boys is intended to support efforts to eliminate cervical cancer in women. She explained that the HPV vaccination for boys was previously planned to start nationally. “But the target was directly nationwide, according to the previous national action plan. Now, the action plan is currently under revision, so we want to create a more gradual programme,” she said.

Indri explained that the HPV vaccination for boys will be expanded to West Java, Central Java, and Banten in 2027. In 2028, the programme will be expanded to East Java. Thus, there will be seven provinces serving as implementation areas over three years before the programme is targeted to apply nationally.

“So we are indeed starting this year in three provinces, as I mentioned earlier. Next year, there will be an additional three provinces, and in 2028, one more province will be added, before we plan to go nationwide,” she said.

Indri added that the phased implementation considers recommendations from the National Immunisation Commission and the World Health Organisation (WHO), including the HPV vaccination coverage rate for girls in the targeted areas. “Why is that? Because according to the recommendations from the National Immunisation Commission and the WHO, there is no specific requirement for the HPV Boys programme. The requirement is that the HPV vaccination coverage for girls in that area has already reached 90 percent. So that is the reason why we are making it gradual, not immediately nationwide,” she explained. The phased approach is also intended to allow for programme evaluation before expansion across Indonesia.