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“Now Boys Can Receive Free Vaccination Too!” Free Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Begins for 12-Year-Old Boys

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Busan Metropolitan City announced that, beginning May 6, it will newly implement the National Immunization Program for the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine targeting 12-year-old boys (born in 2014).

The HPV vaccination program had previously been provided to female adolescents aged 12 to 17 and low-income women aged 18 to 26. Starting May 6, the eligibility will be expanded to include 12-year-old boys (born in 2014).

This expansion aims to strengthen the prevention of sexually transmitted infections by extending HPV vaccination—previously focused on female adolescents—to male adolescents, thereby enabling vaccination for both sexes.

The HPV vaccine is the only vaccine capable of preventing cancer and has high effectiveness in preventing major diseases caused by HPV infection, including cervical cancer and oropharyngeal cancer.

HPV is one of the most common viruses causing genital infections and can infect both men and women. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HPV infection accounts for 90 percent of cervical cancer cases and 70 percent of anal, genital, and oropharyngeal cancers.

The HPV vaccine is currently used in national immunization programs in 147 countries worldwide, including 37 of the 38 member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and has been recognized for its effectiveness and safety.

Adverse reactions following HPV vaccination are similar to those of other infant and childhood vaccines. They may include local reactions such as pain, redness, and hives at the injection site, as well as systemic reactions such as fever and muscle pain, and typically resolve within two to three days without special treatment.

Meanwhile, according to sentinel surveillance results for sexually transmitted infections, the number of reported HPV infections in the city has shown a steady increase each year, with 1,527 cases in 2023, 1,757 in 2024, and 1,953 in 2025, based on data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. Since HPV is mainly transmitted through sexual contact and vaccination after infection may not eliminate the virus and can make treatment difficult, vaccination before infection is critically important.

Eligible individuals can receive the HPV (quadrivalent) vaccine free of charge by visiting nearby designated medical institutions. However, considering the early stage of the program, it is advised to check vaccine availability at medical institutions before visiting.

Participating medical institutions can be found on the Immunization Helper website (nip.kdca.go.kr) under “Vaccination Management” → “Find Designated Medical Institutions.”

HPV vaccination requires two doses administered at a six-month interval and will be provided using the designated vaccine (quadrivalent HPV) in accordance with the National Immunization Program guidelines.

If individuals born in 2014 are unable to complete both doses within this year (2026), they may still receive the remaining dose free of charge in the following year (2027).

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency plans to gradually expand the eligible age group by one year each year.

Cho Gyu-yul, Director General of the Citizens’ Health Bureau, stated, “HPV vaccination is an effective means of preventing cancer-related diseases in the future. Through this expansion, we expect more adolescents to receive timely vaccination.” He added, “Vaccination should be carried out on a day when the individual is in good health, and after vaccination, individuals should remain at the medical institution for 20 to 30 minutes to monitor for any adverse reactions.”