ULAN BATOR, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia officially began a nationwide vaccination campaign against human papillomavirus (HPV) on Thursday, aiming to combat cervical cancer, the country's National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD) announced.

Hospitals across Mongolia will provide free HPV vaccinations to 11-year-old girls and boys, with parental or guardian consent, according to the NCCD statement. This follows the government's decision in December 2023 to include the HPV vaccine in the National Immunization Schedule for all 11-year-olds.

The initiative is part of a broader strategy to reduce HPV-related cancers, particularly cervical cancer, which is a significant health concern in Mongolia.

Cervical cancer ranks as the second most common cancer among women in Mongolia, as well as the fourth most prevalent cancer in the country overall, according to the NCCD.

In 2023, Mongolia recorded 425 new cases of cervical cancer and 165 related deaths in its population of 3.5 million. Currently, approximately 4,700 women in the country are undergoing treatment for the disease. Enditem

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