SINGAPORE - Eligible women looking to guard against cervical cancer will be able to get the Gardasil 9 vaccine, which offers broader protection against the human papillomavirus (HPV), at a subsidised rate in Singapore from Jan 1, 2027.

Secondary 1 and 2 girls will also be given the vaccine, also known as HPV9, in schools in place of the HPV2 vaccine from the same date.

In a joint statement on Oct 2, the Ministry of Health, Health Promotion Board (HPB) and the Communicable Diseases Agency announced the addition of Gardasil 9 to Singapore’s national immunisation schedules and subsidised vaccine list.

With this, eligible Singaporean adults will be able to receive means-tested subsidies of up to 75% for the HPV9 vaccine, while permanent residents can receive subsidies at polyclinics.

Meanwhile, eligible Singaporean children can receive full subsidies at CHAS GP clinics and polyclinics.

HPV vaccination is recommended for females aged nine to 26.

HPV9, which will be added to the National Childhood Immunisation Schedule (NCIS) and National Adult Immunisation Schedule (NAIS), covers HPV types responsible for up to 90% of all cervical cancers.

HPV2, which is also known as Cervarix and protects against up to 70% of all cervical cancers, will remain on both schedules as an alternative option, the statement said.

Meanwhile, HPV4, previously known as Gardasil, is no longer available in Singapore and has been removed from the national schedules.

The agencies said the Expert Committee on Immunisation (ECI) has updated its HPV vaccination recommendations under the NCIS and NAIS: